David O'Rourke

Not much has changed at the New York Racing Association in recent years, but that's about to change. A new Belmont Park is now in the planning stages and is expected to be ready for the 2026 spring meet. And what about the GI Belmont S.? Will the three Triple Crown tracks stick to tradition or will there be an overhaul of the series, which would likely mean that the final leg of the Triple Crown will be pushed back a few weeks? To answer to those questions and more,...

David O'Rourke, the CEO and President of NYRA, joined the TDN Writers' Room to discuss this weekend's Belmont Stakes and future plans for Belmont Park. This week's episode is sponsored by Keeneland, the Green Group, Coolmore, the PHBA, Lane's End, XBTV, and West Point Thoroughbreds.

The 2024 New York budget bills approved by Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Senate and Assembly and released to the public Monday includes authorization for the New York Racing Association to utilize a $455-million loan to build new Thoroughbred racing facilities at Belmont Park. With the state approval, NYRA plans construction of a new building that will completely replace the existing grandstand and clubhouse. The current 1.25-million sq foot structure, which was last renovated in 1968, will be replaced with a roughly 275,000-sq ft facility featuring modern amenities and...

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has officially announced support for a plan by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) to modernize the racing facilities at Belmont Park. The plan has been included as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget Proposal. "Horse racing in New York State has a champion in Governor Kathy Hochul, who clearly recognizes the important role the sport plays within the New York economy," said NYRA President and CEO David O'Rourke. "Belmont Park stands at the center of the statewide racing ecosystem, and...

NYRA Bets Holding, LLC, a subsidiary of NYRA Bets, LLC, the official online wagering platform of the New York Racing Association, Inc., and Game of Silks, the online game connected to the real world of Thoroughbred horse racing, announced Wednesday a new partnership resulting in NYRA Bets Holding, LLC acquiring a minority equity ownership position in Game of Silks. In addition to this strategic investment, the partnership establishes Game of Silks as the Official Blockchain Game and Metaverse Partner of NYRA. The agreement will enable the global horse racing industry...

Veterans and active-duty military personnel will be honored during the New York Racing Association (NYRA)'s annual Military Appreciation Day at Saratoga Thursday, Aug. 25. "The New York Racing Association is honored to recognize the dedication and sacrifices made by the brave men and women who serve our country," said NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke. "We look forward to welcoming them to this special day at Saratoga Race Course and we thank them for their service." All vets and current active-duty members of the military will receive free grandstand admission....

NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss an exciting upcoming weekend of racing in Saratoga and the recent announcement that the 2022 Belmont Fall Meet will be held at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Edited Press Release The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will honor police officers, firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) for their dedication and service to the community on First Responders Day, Thursday, July 28. The day will feature free grandstand admission for all first responders with proper identification. "The New York Racing Association is honored to recognize the brave men and women who answer the call of duty to protect our communities," said NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke. "We hope our first responders will enjoy a relaxing...

Monmouth Park announced last week that it will begin to offer fixed odds wagering starting May 7, opening day of the meet. That was the good news. The bad news was that fixed odds betting will begin with a cautious rollout and without the major players in the sport on board. Starting Saturday, bettors on-track at Monmouth will have the choice of making traditional pari-mutuel bets or placing fixed odds wagers. Two areas of the track will be designated for fixed odds and the bets can only be made through...

In collaboration with Northwell Health, the New York Racing Association and the Backstretch Employee Service Team, a new health clinic will open for Belmont Park workers, it was announced Wednesday. The $200,000, 1,000-square-foot health clinic will provide a continuum of care and offer wellness programs for the thousands of backstretch workers at Belmont Park. The free program is part of Northwell's commitment to providing equitable care to all New Yorkers. "Clinics like this one are important because they allow quick access to care, before health issues become health care emergencies,"...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY--After accepting his fourth H. Allen Jerkens training title late Monday afternoon, Chad Brown spoke to a common theme on the final day of a joyous season following the COVID-19 summer without fans at Saratoga Race Course "Happy to have everybody back at the meet. That was the big thing," Brown said. "The most rewarding part of the meet was having everybody back. Last year, win or lose, it just wasn't any fun. I can speak for me and a lot of people around me that it just...

Despite COVID shutdowns, a total of $21.52 billion was wagered legally on sports in the U.S. in 2020, about twice what was bet on horse racing, and the gap will be even greater this year and for years to come. Sports betting is growing exponentially and an argument can be made that some of its success is coming at horse racing's expense. It's surely siphoning off dollars that otherwise might be available to racing's pari-mutuel pools and it has to be drawing existing and potential customers away from racing. Yet,...