This is a tale of two venues. One has been long neglected and the other has been deliberately overlooked. One is about to be showered with money. The other is dark and rarely used. One has direct access to highways and the other relies on the Long Island Rail Road. It is a tale of government neglect and indifference. One is the Belmont Race Track and the other is the Nassau Coliseum.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed a $455 million upgrade for the long-suffering Belmont facility. The public knows little about Belmont, other than it is the site of a major stakes race every June that draws national attention. Belmont is a beautiful facility that has been overlooked by the state for over 50 years. It has one of the most challenging tracks and many a fan favorite horse has been unable to survive its length.

Renovating Belmont has been under discussion since the early 1960. It did get a face-lift in 1968, which at least put some lipstick on the track’s image. But Belmont has needed more than some paint and lumber. Racing devotees have praised the beauty of the facility for many years and its special charm on the big racing day. If you have ever visited the much-publicized Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY., you will see that there is no valid claim of superiority. It is famous, but it is old and not very attractive.

Critics of the racing industry do not really understand what a revitalized Belmont could mean for Long Island and the state. Some say that racing is a dead industry and has nowhere to go. Others complain about racing in general and claim it is cruel to the animals. If you take the time to visit the Saratoga Race Track in mid-summer, you will get an idea about what a new Belmont Park could do for the region. The city of Saratoga comes alive and benefits from the thousands of people who flock to the area. Hotels and restaurants are crowded with visitors.

The Saratoga facility is a very old track, but it has a charm that Belmont could once again experience. Horse people will tell you that a new Belmont will attract better racehorses and the owner, the New York Racing Association, would probably increase the winning purses to get those horses. A new Belmont will have many more attractions, which will fill up Long Island hotels and restaurants and no doubt help local merchants. The $445 million is a loan to the racing association and not a gift. It has to be repaid over a period of 20 years.

The Nassau Coliseum is a different story. It is a pure case of government malpractice. This once important building sits empty and awaits either demolition or the possibility of being part of a casino complex. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo was in a rush to build the Belmont arena and there were no discussions with local officials about the fate of the Coliseum.  The RXR Company has yet to reveal its plans for the Nassau Hub, which includes the Coliseum. It is possible that the site will be used for some badly needed housing, but it is doubtful that the Town of Hempstead will want any housing on the site.

Part of the blame for the moribund Coliseum rests on past and present lease-holders who never aggressively sought to attract major events. Other than Islander hockey games, there were many attractions over the years that filled the building right up to the rafters. I still fondly remember a Frank Sinatra farewell tour stop at the Coliseum as well as dozens of other musical offerings that were sold out.

It is sad to think that no one cares anymore about the Coliseum, but it is a fact. You have a better chance of winning the lottery than there is of there being a casino on the site.   I am personally happy that Belmont will be restored to its deserved glory, but sad to see a once viable property sit and wait for the wrecking ball.