Ruling Blocking Aqueduct Process Delayed

Following a July 9 lawsuit to block the state’s Lottery Division from selecting a new bidder to manage slot machines at the Aqueduct racetrack, the Judge has delayed entering a ruling.

On Friday State Supreme Court Judge Barry D. Kramer said that more time was needed to review documents relevant to the case and rescheduled the hearing for July 29 when he is likely to deliver a verdict.

At hand is whether claims from the previous contract winner, Aqueduct Entertainment Co, should result in an injunction prohibiting the state from rendering Genting New York LLC as the winner of the 30 year contract.

Earlier this year Aqueduct Entertainment Co was selected as the winning bid in the state’s second selection process but was denied licensing as controversy arose surrounding Governor David Paterson’s processes.

If an injunction is granted, Aqueduct Entertainment Co. plans to file a lawsuit seeking the contract to be returned to them.

“We’re ready to start building,” Latif Doman, an attorney for AEC said. “We were 20 days away from giving the state $300 million. Once we did that, we would be ready to break ground. We could still be open within 16 months.”