By Dan Hust
MONTICELLO — April 8, 2003 – According to yesterday’s edition of The New York Times, the owners of the Monticello Raceway have signed an agreement with the Cayuga Nation to begin the work needed to bring a casino to the track.
Although the tribe of Native Americans has long opposed gambling, evidently Alpha Hospitality Chair and Raceway owner Robert Berman has been working with the Cayugas to take ownership of 30 acres of land next to the Raceway in preparation for a casino.
Berman’s initial idea for a casino fell through when the St. Regis Mohawks transferred their plans to Park Place Entertainment, which is seeking approval for a casino at Kutsher’s Sports Academy, north of Monticello.
The Raceway and Kutsher’s casino proposals are joined by another one in Bridgeville, under the auspices of the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe and Trading Cove Associates.
A full story on the plans at the Monticello Raceway will appear in Friday’s Democrat.