Aqueduct

Trainer Juan Carlos Vazquez has been banned from running horses in the state of New York, according to a release from the New York State Gaming Commission. In a ruling issued July 7, the Pennsylvania Board of Stewards suspended Vazquez through Jan. 26, 2025, alleging that a horse under his care was shipped from Belmont Park to Parx Racing who was in such poor health that it had to be euthanized after its arrival. The stewards labeled Vazquez's behavior "grossly negligent, cruel and abusive." It its statement Monday, the NYSGC...

As the 42,329 fans that attended the races at Aqueduct on July 4, 1972 made their way to the exits and to the parking lot and the A train after the day's last race, it's doubtful that anyone among them realized they had just witnessed the debut of one of the greatest horses who ever raced. For Secretariat, it began 50 years ago from today with a bad trip and a fourth-place finish in a maiden special weight race with an $8,000 purse. It would turn out to be the...

The New York Racing Association and trainer Marcus Vitali have reached a settlement regarding NYRA's effort to exclude the trainer from participating at its three tracks. According to NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna, the agreement requires that the terms of the settlement remain confidential. The TDN reached out to both Vitali's attorney Brad Bielly Friday in an attempt to gather more information. By mid-afternoon, he had not responded. Vitali told the TDN that he was not aware of the terms of the deal. In September, NYRA announced that it would begin...

A three-member panel assigned with the task of deciding whether or not the New York Racing Association was justified in punishing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert announced its decision late Thursday afternoon, issuing a one-year suspension from the NYRA tracks, effective immediately. In April, a hearing officer recommended that Baffert be suspended for two years, so Thursday's decision was not a complete loss for the embattled trainer. After a federal judge ordered that NYRA could not impose a ban on Baffert without affording the trainer due process, a hearing...

Some 9 1/2 years after being handed a 10-year ban by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, the predecessor of the New York Gaming Commission, trainer Rick Dutrow could be only a few months removed from a return to the racetrack. His last starter came on Jan. 16, 2013 at Aqueduct, meaning that he may be allowed to resume training by mid-January of next year. "Ricky is doing quite well and he really is in a great frame of mind," said trainer Tony Dutrow, Dutrow's brother. "He's excited...

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, in conjunction with the New York Racing Association, New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund has introduced a lucrative new purse enhancement for owners of New York Stallion-sired New York-breds competing on the NYRA circuit. Effective immediately, the 'New York-Sired Bonus' will provide an additional $5,000 to the winning owner of a New York-sired New York-bred who finishes first in all open company and New York-bred restricted maiden special weight, allowance, and allowance optional claiming races. The...

At an impasse with NYRA over health insurance benefits, the union representing assistant starters at Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga has informed the racing organization that it will wage a strike starting on the day of the GI Belmont S. if its demands are not met. With recent discussions between NYRA and Local 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers failing to produce a solution, the union served NYRA with a Notice of Intent to Strike. The union is asking for NYRA to pick up the health coverage from the...

A New York Racing Association (NYRA) clocker has been suspended for 30 days and fined $2,500 "for altering a published work of a horse to make the horse eligible to race." A New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) ruling dated May 19 states that Richard Gazer, a NYRA employee, has appealed his penalties and has been granted a stay while that process plays out. But the ruling does not list any details about the circumstances, like the horse involved or the date of the alleged wrongdoing. Asked via email to...

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...

Judge O. Peter Sherwood, the retired New York Supreme Court justice who served as the hearing officer in NYRA's dispute with Bob Baffert, has issued his report, recommending that Baffert receive a two-year suspension. "NYRA has reasonably concluded that it will not condone Baffert's reckless practices, outrageous behavior and substance violations, each of which compromises the integrity of the sport," Sherwood wrote. "I conclude that NYRA has reasonably determined that he should be excluded from the Racetracks for a lengthy period." The report has been sent to a three-person panel...

Klaravich Stables' Consumer Spending (f, 3, More Than Ready-Siempre Mia, by Scat Daddy) defeated returning GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Pizza Bianca to win the Memories of Silver S. at Aqueduct Sunday to cap a spring meet where her connections won both leading trainer and owner titles. Pizza Bianca, the 4-5 favorite, settled off a mild pace and Consumer Spending, at 7-1, sat just off the Breeders' Cup winner. Consumer Spending tracked as the favorite rolled up three wide on the far turn and engaged her rival while four...

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...