NYRA monitoring extended

The New York Racing Association will remain under the federal court-appointed monitorship of the law firm of Getnick and Getnick until the end of the Belmont Park meeting, July 24, a U.S. District Court judge ordered Wednesday.

Originally, Getnick and Getnick's 18-month stint as monitor over NYRA was to have expired Friday. Thursday's order was handed down at the request of acting United States attorney general for the Eastern District of New York, Eric Corngold. NYRA agreed to the extension.

"The monitor requested some extra time to complete unfinished business, and we thought the end of the meet made perfect sense for continuity purposes,'' said Bill Nader, senior vice president for NYRA.

The court and NYRA entered into a deferred prosecution agreement on Dec. 10, 2003, after NYRA was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit tax fraud and fined $3 million for its role in helping mutuel clerks defraud the government by avoiding paying taxes. Twenty mutuel clerks were convicted of tax evasion over a three-year period.

The agreement was extended through Aug. 23, by which time the government could seek dismissal of the indictment if it agrees NYRA is in full compliance with its obligations.