NYRA

A trio of 3-year-olds from the barn of Todd Pletcher took to the Belmont dirt training track Friday morning as they prepare for stakes engagements during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), who defeated GI Preakness S. hopeful Early Voting (Gun Runner) in the GII Wood Memorial S. Apr. 9 ahead of a closing fifth in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7, breezed a half-mile in the company of his GI Central Bank Ashland S.-winning stable companion Nest (Curlin) in :50.02. Owned by Donegal Racing and Repole...

The launch of a new television advertisement was announced by officials at We Are NY Horse Racing Friday, titled 'Community.' It seeks to further educate and inform New Yorkers about the importance of horse racing to the New York State economy. The ad will air on broadcast and cable networks across the state beginning Friday, with additional ads to be unveiled in the coming months. The ad also appears on YouTube, below. [tdn_video service="youtube" videoid= "DGMHF4HIblw"]

Though he said NYRA is willing to be part of a dialogue involving changing the dates of the Triple Crown races, a hot topic since GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) opted out of the GI Preakness S., NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke has made it clear that the racing organization has no immediate plans to sign off on proposals that would alter the status quo. "We are touching on tradition here," O'Rourke told the TDN Wednesday. "We are touching on the one thing that is sacrosanct...

Edited Press Release A diverse group of equine industry and animal welfare organizations have announced the "Final Stretch Alliance to End Horse Slaughter"--a collaborative effort to permanently ban the slaughter of American horses. In an open letter to congressional leaders, including US Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and US Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the alliance urged federal lawmakers to pass the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R.3355/S.2732) to permanently ban horse slaughter in the US and end the export of American horses...

Jockey Dylan Davis reached 1,000 career victories with a late-rallying finish aboard the Christophe Clement-trained Heels Together (Hard Spun) in Friday's fifth race at Belmont Park. "It feels great. Obviously, I couldn't have done this without the horses, my agent Mike Migliore, and my supporters--countless trainers and owners to get me here," Davis said. "It feels really special. I love doing this and I love the game. I wasn't really keeping track of the number I was at," Davis added, with a laugh. The son of accomplished jockey and current...

Legislation has now been introduced in both houses of the New York State Legislature that, if passed, would provide NYRA with the statutory authority to access $450 million in New York State-backed bonds to finance the construction of a new racing facility at Belmont Park. The project would include the construction of a new building to replace the current grandstand and clubhouse; the reconstruction of the main track and both turf courses; and the installation of a synthetic track to be used for winter racing. NYRA would pay all debt...

The New York Racing Association will hold a series of jobs fairs to fill temporary employment positions in support of the 2022 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which will take place at Belmont Park from Thursday, June 9 to Saturday, June 11. To fill the approximately 700 temporary positions required to support the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival operation, NYRA will hold three job fairs at Belmont Park from May 12 to May 14 to hire betting clerks, white caps, cashiers, hospitality team members, ticket scanners, program sellers, ushers and supervisors. Betting...

The racing action from Churchill Downs Racetrack throughout the 2022 Spring Meet will be broadcast on FOX Sports' "America's Day at the Races," which will air every race day on either FS1 or FS2. The Kentucky Oaks and Derby cards will be shown on tape delay. Produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, "America's Day at the Races" is hosted by Greg Wolf with a team of handicappers and racing analysts that includes Paul LoDuca, Andy Serling, Maggie Wolfendale, Acacia Courtney, Richard Migliore,...

The recently concluded 15-day spring meet at Aqueduct Racetrack generated $115,750,073 in all-sources handle, a 35.5 percent increase over the 11-day spring meet held in 2021, according to The New York Racing Association, Inc. Wednesday. On-track handle for the 2022 Aqueduct spring meet, which includes wagering from New York State residents utilizing NYRA Bets, was $11,332,663. The 2021 Aqueduct spring meet, which was conducted without fans in attendance, saw on-track handle of $5,734,531. Average daily handle for the spring meet was $7,716,672 compared with $7,765,368 in 2021. The 2022 Aqueduct...

The New York Racing Association is creating a new Pick 3 wager to be made available exclusively to retail customers on Sundays during the upcoming spring/summer meet at Belmont Park, NYRA announced Thursday. Featuring a $3 bet minimum and 24% takeout, the NYRA Triple Play will cover the final three races of Sunday cards throughout the 44-day spring summer meet. Each NYRA Triple Play will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool. Wagering on the NYRA Triple Play will be available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across...

Betty A. Leon Esq. has been appointed to the New York Racing Association's Board of Directors. The recommendation was made by Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-South Queens), representing the 23rd district, with the final approval and official appointment made by New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. "I am proud to appoint Betty Leon to the NYRA Board of Directors because I am confident that she will be a valuable asset to the board, and that she will add much-needed diversity to the board," said Heastie. Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato...

By the beginning of April, there had been two fatal musculoskeletal injuries during the current Santa Anita meet. Wind the clock back to an identical window in 2019, there had been 22. During Aqueduct's benighted 2011-2012 Winter meet, 21 horses died, 18 of which were fractures sustained during racing. Over the next seven years, New York's four racetracks saw a 50% reduction in racing fatalities. What is the common denominator? Huge advances in identifying those horses at higher risk of sustaining fatal injuries in racing and training, and much tighter...