Three put up for N.Y. panel

New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has nominated the mayor of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and two state legislators as his appointments to the Ad Hoc Committee on the Future of Racing, Silver announced Tuesday.

One of the nominees, Valerie Keehn, was sworn in as mayor of Saratoga Springs in January. The other nominees are Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, chairman of the assembly's Racing and Wagering Committee, and Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer, chairwoman of the Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee. Pheffer's district includes the location of Aqueduct.

If approved by Gov. George Pataki, the nominations would fill out the three empty seats on the nine-member committee. The committee's job is to develop recommendations on how to award the franchise to operate Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga, along with a slot-machine casino at Aqueduct.

Silver is a Democrat, as are all three of his nominees.