I grew up in Queens, NY, close to Aqueduct and Belmont. I know many people who could walk to either of those two tracks (Belmont and Aqueduct), yet they NEVER go. These same people will drive 3+ hours and build vacations around the Saratoga meet. Show up at Big Sandy on any day but the Belmont Stakes or Jockey Club Gold Cup Day in the fall (there are 5 G1 races that day) and you will a couple of thousand folks sprinkled throughout the grounds and stands. And, BTW, the grounds there are very nice. Plenty of room to picnic, throw around a ball and play. I routinely introduce the local kiddies to the fine art of horse handicapping via organized field trips to the track. Nothing is funnier that watching 9 year olds holding Racing Forms and discussing Lasix dosages. Half the neighborhood soccer moms scatter when the Canzoneri kids call for play dates!

The Spa is a special place. If you have never been there, it is like walking into Yankee Stadium or Augusta National. You can't help but feel the history. You walk straight back into time. I read where someone......it might have been Mary Lou Whitney, the track's Grand Dame said (Paraphraising), "if heaven turns out to be summer at Saratoga, that would be just fine by me". I am in complete agreement. The scene there IS the draw. As the articles hints, you will NEVER see slots at Saratoga. There would be a revolt.

The money made during the short summer season at Saratoga is what has kept the other two tracks going. Without the revenue generated by some form of legalized gambling (slots and/or poker) it won't matter what they try. It won't work.
The horses are important, but for most people nowadays, that is not enough.

I think it would be a good thing if NYRA lost control and some new blood tried to move it along. Jist as long as they don't mess with The Spaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.