Officials at Batavia Downs are trying to figure out what to do after Rocky Ferrando won a 2009 Dodge Challenger over the weekend.
Great for Rocky, but the problem for the Downs is that Ferrando is a full-time OTB employee.
According to Dan Fischer at WBTA, officials are researching Batavia Down rules about employees entering and winning contests.
Listen to WBTA this morning and afternoon for more on the developing story.
UPDATE: WBTA has an audio interview up with Marketing Manager Marty Biniaz. The prize has been rewarded to Melanie Rahlston of Mount. Morris.
WBTA has just announced that
WBTA has just announced that Rocco was not eligible to win the prize and re-select another winner who elected to accept the car.
i thought they were giving
i thought they were giving away a challenger...not a charger
If he was not eligible to
If he was not eligible to play how could he be entered...You had to of had a players club card used on the day of the drawing to be entered..That means he has been gambling there even though he was not allowed...Sound like he could be fired for that...
I wouldn't jump to that
I wouldn't jump to that conclusion, Mark. While I don't know the specifics of the Downs, it would seem that if you were an employee who liked to gamble, you would have a players card, which probably means you're automatically entered.
Then why couldn't he win the
Then why couldn't he win the car..
I don't know how he was even
I don't know how he was even entered as well.
Employees are not supposed to gamble on the machines, but are allowed to bet the races at the Downs and other tracks. He must have been using a card (which he shouldn't have if he works there) to gamble in the machines (which he isn't supposed to do).
I would expect that there will at least be an investigation.
Total B.S.!!!! How and when
Total B.S.!!!! How and when did they choose the new winner??????You were supposed to be PRESENT to win the vehicle-I was there until 10:20 and did not hear them announce any more names.What a ripoff!!! I wish the fire marshall was there on Sat.night-it was WAY overcrowded,hardly was able to move around.Time to send some nasty emails to Batavia Downs-maybe even fire an email off to some news stations.
I thought ANY employee or
I thought ANY employee or member of employees immediate family was NOT allowed to play at Batavia Downs.
you people have no clue, but
you people have no clue, but I will enlighten you! Rocky has a players club card just like you and I can. And it is legal for him to possess one. The people that can not have a players club card and play in the Casino are the gaming employees and their immediate families. The workers in the Casino have to have a New York State Lottery Division license in order to work there. Rock works at the tracks' Inter Track Wagering parlor. He has to possess a New York State Racing and Wagering license to work there. One department is casino gambling and the other is horse race betting. They are two different and distinct operations governed by two different state entities. So I wonder myself how a casino worker can go to OTB and make any amount of money but an OTB worker can not win big at the Casino!!!!
Thanks for clearing that
Thanks for clearing that up.The stupid state should make its mind up-I think it should go to court then.When was the second name drawn?Anyone know?
From what I read in
From what I read in yesterdays Dailey News; 10 names were selected by a computer as the winner was suppose to be present to win the car. After this screw up, I think they just called up the next name on the phone and awarded the prize or cash money.
A PR disaster of major proportions for the Batavia Downs.
Who do you think runs the
Who do you think runs the show there? Oh yeah...NYS. That may explain the level of incompetence