Letter to the Editor: New York Dates–Let's Elevate the Discussion

by Matt Cutair

We must elevate the discussion surrounding the New York racing calendar beyond the current, unproductive focus on the total number of racing dates. This metric is ultimately irrelevant if not tied to the overall quality and economic viability of our product.

Arguing over the number of racing dates is a distraction, especially if a nominal increase in days is achieved by simply reducing the number of races run per day. For example, gaining four extra days by moving from a three-day to a four-day week means little if we write an average of one fewer race per day over that period. The real goal is not simply volume, but value.

Instead of negotiating for days, NYRA, Owners, and Trainers must align on the three critical metrics that will define success over the coming years:

Handle: Maximizing wagering revenue.

Lowering Costs: Improving operational efficiency.

Experience: Enhancing the product for owners, fans, and bettors.

By running fewer days, but being more strategic about the calendar, we can achieve these goals:

Maximize Handle: We should concentrate races on higher-quality days–specifically weekends and established high-handle days. By strategically expanding the number of races on these high-demand days, we can mitigate and potentially offset the impact from canceling low-handle days.

Enhanced Owner Experience: Consolidating races onto weekends makes the sport significantly more accessible to owners. A 2 p.m. race on a Thursday in February naturally excludes many working owners. Moving that race to a weekend slot dramatically increases owner attendance and engagement.

Improve the Betting Product: Running fewer days with a more concentrated schedule will naturally lead to enhanced field size and competitive racing. This benefits the gambler by offering a superior wagering product at times more conducive to their schedules.

Lowering Costs For All: Furthermore, a reduction in racing days would be expected to dramatically lower operational costs across the entire ecosystem. The savings realized from operating the track less frequently must be strategically shared between NYRA and the horsemen (this is an “argument that's worth having”). This is crucial, as trainers will also see reduced expenses (which ultimately benefits owners), amplifying the overall economic efficiency gained from a refined calendar.

The current state of winter racing entries and field sizes in New York clearly demonstrates that the status quo is unsustainable. While it may offer a fleeting, short-term benefit for an individual owner/trainer to win in a four-horse field, this practice leads to the long-term erosion of the product's quality.

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity with the impending opening of the new Belmont Park. Our collective effort must be focused on a strategic calendar that raises the level of competition, maximizes revenue, lowers costs to participants and delivers a premium experience. Let us move beyond bottom-of-the-barrel arguments about the number of dates and focus on the quality of racing.

   Matt Cutair has owned horses on the New York racing circuit for over 20 years, starting out as a partner with Sovereign Stables, eventually running under his own stable–Cutair Racing, and now running the Adelphi Racing Club partnership group. Cutair currently owns and campaigns over 35 horses in New York (with more than half of them being New York- breds). In addition to his racing interests, he also owns New York-based broodmares and has a small group of retired horses (including OTTBs) stabled at the barn at his primary residence in nearby Greenwich, CT.