New York Race Track Chaplaincy

Friday's first race at Saratoga is named in honor of Bob Coglianese, the late NYRA track photographer who passed away in December. Coglianese, who would have been celebrating his 89th birthday, spent more than half of a century documenting racing history. Friends from his decades at the track are welcome to join in the winner's circle presentation following the race and all are encouraged to turn their attention to the on-track screens for a video tribute. If you would like to honor his legacy, the Coglianese family recommends donations to...

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, along with his wife Tracy, received the Marylou Whitney Award from the New York Race Track Chaplaincy for their continuing devotion and support of the backstretch community at the organization's 16th annual fundraising brunch at the Saratoga National Golf Club, the organization said in a release Wednesday. "I can't say enough about what the New York Race Track Chaplaincy organization does for the backstretch community," Pletcher said. "It provides so much more than spiritual help. I look at it like the mayor's office where...

West Point Thoroughbreds President and Chief Executive Terry Finley has been elected to the board of stewards of The Jockey Club, it was announced Monday. He fills the expired position of Vinnie Viola. Ian D. Highet, a steward of The Jockey Club, was reelected to the board. Finley, who has been a member of The Jockey Club since 2019, at the helm of West Point campaigned either solely or in partnership Horse of the Year Flightline (Tapit), GI Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (Bodemeister), and a number of other Grade...

Liz Bishop, the longtime, award-winning television news anchor at the Albany CBS affiliate station (WRGB-TV) will once again serve as the master of ceremonies for the New York Race Track Chaplaincy's Annual Brunch on Aug. 16 to be held at the Saratoga National Golf Club, the organization said in a release Wednesday. "First of all, I'm really honored beyond words to emcee this event," she said. "When I walk into that big room and see all those people from all facets of the Thoroughbred racing world gathered together, I get...

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy, an organization devoted to serving the community of stable workers and their families who make Thoroughbred racing possible at Belmont Park, Aqueduct Racetrack, and Saratoga Race Course, have announced that tickets and sponsorships for its 16th annual brunch in Saratoga Springs are now available. The brunch, scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 10 a.m. EDT, will once again be held at the Saratoga National Golf Club. Tickets and sponsorships can be obtained online by visiting www.rtcany.org. or by calling 516-216-5196. "This increasingly popular event...

The Horse Racing Women's Summit (HRWS) community will 'Meet Up' in Saratoga Springs on Thursday, Aug. 3. The gathering at Saratoga Race Course will feature New York horsewomen and provide attendees with an opportunity to network during morning training hours and at the races. A breakfast buffet on the clubhouse porch is available, but must be purchased separately from the HRWS ticket. Attendees will reconvene at the racetrack for an afternoon of racing in the climate- controlled Paddock Suite. Tickets to the Aug. 3rd HRWS Meet Up at Saratoga are...

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy (NYRTC) will honor Tracy and Todd Pletcher for their generous and continued support of the New York backstretch community at its 16th Annual Fundraising Brunch, which will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 16 at the Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs, New York. "This honor means the world to Tracy and to me," said Todd Pletcher. "Our record reflects a team effort and the members of the backstretch are key members of our team. The New York Chaplaincy does great work serving those...

Christmas came a few days early for approximately 150 backstretch families at Belmont Park on Tuesday, December 20th when the New York Race Track Chaplaincy hosted its annual Sponsor-A-Family Program. The families received food and gifts, including new winter clothing for children, new toys and gift cards. Highlighting this year's festivities was the presence of Mario Artaza, the Consul General of Chile in New York, who dressed as Santa Claus. "I'm honored to participate in this year's event and it's heartwarming to see what the horse racing community is doing...

Tickets are now on sale for the New York Race Track Chaplaincy's fundraising Brunch at Saratoga National Golf Club Aug. 17. Tickets can be obtained online or by calling 516-216-5196. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for interested persons, groups or organizations. The honoree at this year's brunch will be Andy Serling, the New York Racing Association television analyst and handicapper. Previous honorees for their devotion to the backstretch community include: Anne Campbell, Edgar Prado, Michael Dubb, Fay and David Donk, Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson, Letty and Kiaran McLaughlin, Lisa...

Feature courtesy of the New York Racing Association From the desk of his cramped office at the New York division of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America (NYRTCA) on Belmont Park's backstretch, Chaplain Humberto Chavez can gaze out the window at what he calls, "something we've been planning for and dreaming of for years." Directly north of the NYRTCA's current office, a team of New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) carpenters, electricians and plumbers are at work constructing the Chaplaincy's new 3,500-square-foot building, which will double the Chaplaincy's current space...

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy will honor Andy Serling for his work with the backstretch community at its 15th annual fundraising brunch, to be held Aug. 17 at Saratoga National Golf Club during the Saratoga meet. Serling is best known as a television analyst and handicapper for New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), where he has been a member of the broadcast team since 2008. He is also the senior racing analyst on America's Day at the Races, which presents coverage of NYRA racing on the networks of FOX...

The 13th annual jockeys-versus-horsemen charity basketball game, which benefits the programs of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy and was scheduled to be played Wednesday, Sept. 1, has been canceled. "With COVID-19 infection rates climbing again, we just couldn't jeopardize the safety of the participants or the hundreds of fans who come to the game each year, so we decided it was best to cancel it once again," said NY Race Track Chaplaincy executive director and lead chaplain Humberto Chavez. "We are all disappointed but hopefully we can resume the...