NYRA-Youbet deal approved; others pending

The New York Racing Association still did not receive the necessary approvals from the New York State Racing and Wagering Board to allow the majority of advance-deposit wagering outlets to take bets on Aqueduct's races Thursday. Those same outlets were shut out on Tuesday as well.

The board did approve NYRA's contract with Youbet.com, though that company was not permitted to show streaming video of the races as it had hoped. However, the contracts with TVG, HRTV, and TrackNet Media Group had not been approved as of Thursday, and it was unclear when they would go through.

NYRA did not submit its revised contract with TVG until after business hours Wednesday. TVG had been an exclusive carrier of NYRA's races, but lost those exclusive rights beginning Jan. 1. HRTV, which had not carried NYRA before, carried the races on its network for a second straight day Thursday even though it was not permitted to take bets.

"There are a lot of people, including owners and breeders, that are looking for the races, so we'll continue to slot them," said Amy Zimmerman, HRTV's executive producer.