Here’s hoping politics won’t ruin good thing with New York racing

Despite the political turmoil embroiling New York racing, one thing is certain: Purse money will go through the roof when Saratoga opens on July 20.

Belmont Park purses already are way up as profits pour in from the racino at Aqueduct. For example, a maiden special weight sprint now offers a $70,000 purse. That's stakes-level money at nearly all racetracks.

The nation's best jockeys follow the cash, and the influx already has begun.

Champion riders Julien Leparoux, Rosie Napravnik and Joel Rosario have moved their tack to New York. It's key for them to join the jockey colony well in advance of Saratoga to build up clientele.

Using the current national rider standings, 10 of the top 12 jockeys in money earned are competing in New York. They include Javier Castellano, Ramon Dominguez, the currently sidelined John Velazquez, Leparoux, Rosario, Napravnik, Junior Alvarado, Cornelio Velasquez, Jose Lezcano and Rajiv Maragh.

Everyday racing in New York is going to look like an all-star jockey competition. And the quality of horses figures to keep improving, too. Horsemen are clamoring for stall space to compete for the highest purse structure in the country.

This is great news for horseplayers. The depth of world-class jockeys there will ensure that even our price plays will get a strong ride.

This outcome was predictable once New York finally approved a casino to be built at Aqueduct. The dense population in the New York metropolitan area guaranteed a captive audience for the first new casino.

However, what will be unpredictable is how committed New York, namely Gov. Andrew Cuomo, will be to maintaining the best horse racing in the country.

Cuomo forcibly has gained control of the New York Racing Association and, with the stroke of a pen, taken hold of the future of horse racing in the state.

Politicians are famous for saying one thing and doing another.

In nearly every state where slot machine profits supplement horse racing, cash-starved state governments are eyeing the money for other purposes.

In the court of public perception, it's too easy to dump on horse racing. For example, should money go to broken-down gamblers and drugged-up horses or to pay for education and public services? If you think I'm kidding, have you read the New York Times lately?

All I know is I'm going to enjoy Saratoga racing this summer and pray that politicians don't mess with it.

■ SOUTH POINT PICK SEVEN - The South Point is starting a new weekly contest on Thursdays. The South Point Pick Seven will culminate with a final tournament on Sept. 27.

■ ORLEANS QUALIFIER - The Orleans will host a qualifier for the 2013 Horseplayer World Series on Wednesday. Entry fee is $100. The contest winner will receive a free berth into the HWS.

Richard Eng's horse racing column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick.