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NYRA Chief on Leave During Winnings Payment Probe

The New York Racing Association has placed its top executive on unpaid administrative leave pending a state investigation into $8.5 million in winnings that weren't paid out to bettors on horse races.  WAMC’s Ian Pickus reports…

The state Racing and Wagering Board's interim report on the unpaid winnings was released Monday and was highly critical of NYRA's top management.

Hours after the report was released, NYRA's Executive Committee put CEO Charles Hayward and Senior Vice President Patrick Kehoe on unpaid leave for an unspecified amount of time. Hayward's annual pay is $475,000; Kehoe's is $423,000.

The committee says NYRA will take what it calls appropriate steps and actions. The private entity holds the state franchise to run thoroughbred racing at the Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga tracks.

Ian Pickus, WAMC News.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.

A lifelong resident of the Capital Region, Ian joined WAMC in late 2008 and became news director in 2013. He began working on Morning Edition and has produced The Capitol Connection, Congressional Corner, and several other WAMC programs. Ian can also be heard as the host of the WAMC News Podcast and on The Roundtable and various newscasts. Ian holds a BA in English and journalism and an MA in English, both from the University at Albany, where he has taught journalism since 2013.