Monitor files first NYRA report

A law firm appointed by a federal court to monitor the New York Racing Association has issued its first progress report to the court, state officials announced Monday.

The monitor, the Manhattan law firm Getnick and Getnick, was appointed on March 1 by a federal judge for the Eastern District of New York to ensure that NYRA complies with the conditions of its deferred prosecution agreement. NYRA reached the agreement last year after being indicted on federal tax-fraud charges.

The report said that Getnick and Getnick has established offices at NYRA's tracks and begun meeting with NYRA's officials and horsemen.

Separately, New York's comptroller, Alan Hevesi, said that his office has started audits of NYRA's travel and entertainment expenses, its contracting and procurement procedures, the franchise fee that NYRA pays to the state, and NYRA's backstretch operations.