Governor Cuomo’s announcement on Monday that casinos and other gaming facilities will be able to double their capacity from 25% to 50% starting on Saturday, May 15 means we are on our way back to a sense of normality and economic recovery. I applaud Governor Cuomo’s decision to follow the science and open up the state even further as our COVID-19 numbers continue to decrease and more residents are vaccinated. However, we cannot forget about our horse racing tracks in this decision. Racetracks are in open-air facilities and should absolutely be included in any kind of visitor expansion, just as with our baseball and other outdoor stadiums. I look forward to working with the Governor and his staff on discussing further reopening standards for gaming facilities and our state's racetracks.