ALBANY, N.Y. -- The family of New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner withdrew from the group that was bidding to run New York thoroughbred racing.
"The Steinbrenner family and all of their related entities will withdraw from the Excelsior bid," family spokesman Howard Rubenstein said Sunday. "The reason is to pursue other opportunities."
Since 1955, the New York Racing Association has held the right to operate Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga race tracks. NYRA's franchise expires Dec. 31, and the next franchise holder could run racing for up to 20 years.
Rubenstein also said Tishman-Speyer, part of the Excelsior group, will withdraw from the bidding. Tisham-Speyer Properties is a major New York developer which is part owner of Rockefeller Center and has investments in other landmark properties.
Excelsior intends to reorganize.
"Our bid is continuing as planned," Excelsior spokeswoman Katie Burke said. "There are going to be some considerable changes in the next few days."
The developments leave New York Yankees partner and once heir apparent Steve Swindal without some major partners and apparently the cachet of the famed baseball team.
Last week, Swindal's future with the Steinbrenner family and Yankees was cast in doubt because his wife, Steinbrenner's daughter, was seeking a divorce. Excelsior has used ads that included images of the Yankees and said it would draw on the team's tradition if it won the franchise.
Two years ago, Steinbrenner, a horse owner himself, said Swindal would eventually succeed him as head of the Yankees. Swindal currently is a Yankees general partner and chairman of Yankee Global Enterprises.
In November, a state committee charged with assessing franchise proposals recommended Excelsior Racing Associates, which is also headed by casino developer Richard Fields. But Gov. Eliot Spitzer has said he will review all proposals before a franchise is awarded. There was no immediate comment Thursday from Spitzer on whether Excelsior's status has changed.
The bidders will present their proposals in public hearings April 10 and 11. The field also includes: NYRA; Empire Racing; a Saratoga Springs group that includes Churchill Downs of Louisville, Ky.; and Capital Play, an Australian consortium based in New York City.
JCJanko 
