New York Racing Association

The names for the New York legs of the Empire Trillium Series, a 14-race program of stakes races at Belmont Park and Woodbine Racetrack restricted to horses foaled in New York or Canada worth $3.2 million in total purses, have been revealed by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA). Saturday, Dec. 26: The Empire Trillium Series will begin with four $200,000 events for 2-year-olds on Dec. 26 over the new Tapeta course at the reimagined Belmont Park. Each of the four stakes slated for Dec. 26 are named in...

Saratoga season admission passes for the 2026 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course are now available for purchase at more than 175 Stewart's Shops throughout the greater Capital Region, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Thursday. On-sale through Sunday, July 19, Saratoga season passes provide fans with general admission access to all 46 days of Thoroughbred racing this summer, including the Opening Weekend July 4th Racing Festival, Whitney Day, and DraftKings Travers Day. Season passes are available in hard copy or digitally for $94 at Stewart's Shops,...

A full slate of entertainment and family-friendly events are set for the July 4th Racing Festival, which will be held Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, and serve as Opening Weekend of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Thursday. Saratoga's Opening Weekend festivities will align with the nationwide celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. "Opening Weekend at Saratoga Race Course is one of the most anticipated events of the summer in New York, and...

Breeders' Cup Limited and The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) unveiled the official logo for the 2027 World Championships, to be held Oct. 29-30 at the new Belmont Park, the organization said in a Wednesday press release. This marks the sixth time the World Championships will be held in New York, joining 1985, 1990, 1995, 2001 and 2005. The #BreedersCup is coming back to New York. 🗽 Learn more: https://t.co/1O8rAirl9G 📍Oct. 29-30, 2027 | Belmont Park @TheNYRA pic.twitter.com/vQc2EvuElt — Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) June 10, 2026

Some 3 1/2 years ago, when the New York Racing Association (NYRA) first announced that the GI Belmont Stakes would be relocated to Saratoga Race Course during the extensive renovation of Belmont Park, there was plenty of hand-wringing about whether or not the three-year move to a different track and a cutback in distance from 12 to 10 furlongs constituted over-tinkering with the third jewel of the Triple Crown. "The debate is healthy. It means fans care," I wrote in a Dec. 10, 2023 installment of this column. "But the...

With the 2026 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival underway at Saratoga, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) is offering early access for tickets to the 2027 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The 2027 event will be returned to Belmont Park, which has been undergoing a three-year transformation. The new Belmont Park will open for live racing Sept. 18. NYRA will provide fans the opportunity to enter a presale drawing for a variety of ticket packages. Deposits for premium hospitality packages and preferred seating at the 2027 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival can...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will significantly increase purses on overnight races during the fall meet at the new Belmont Park, which will open for live racing Sept. 18, the track said via a Thursday press release. NYRA has increased purses in the open allowance category by 15 percent from $100,000 to $115,000. In addition, first-level optional-claiming events will be offered for $105,000 and second-level optional-claiming races will be offered for $108,000. Maiden special weight races will receive an 18 percent increase from $85,000 to $100,000, while New...

Klaravich Stable's Growth Equity (Nyquist) exited his two-length victory in the GIII Peter Pan Stakes Saturday in fine shape and the June 6 GI Belmont Stakes remains a possible next target for the bay colt. "He looks good so far," trainer Chad Brown said of Growth Equity's status Sunday morning. "That was a nice step forward. I was glad to see him handle two turns. I thought that he ran well. I think the runner-up is a nice horse. So, that was a nice, positive move forward. No immediate plans...

When the new Belmont Park opens on Sept. 18, NYRA will kick off an expanded fall meet that will run through Dec. 6 and include 72 stakes races worth $17.7 million in total purses, the racing association announced Thursday. Among the highlights will be the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, which has been moved back to the downstate track after being run in Saratoga from 2021 through 2025. With a purse of $1 million, it will be the feature race on the first day of racing at the new facility....

In an article posted last week in Sports Business Journal, it was reported that the GI Preakness Stakes would be pushed back a week next year to be run three weeks after the GI Kentucky Derby and that the GI Belmont Stakes would also be pushed back by a week. The stir the article caused quickly died down when Maryland Jockey Club President and General Manager Bill Knauf denied that any decisions had been made regarding the date of next year's Preakness. But the story did get some important things...

Todd Schrupp, who recently ended his long-time tenure with TVG/FanDuel TV, will join the New York Racing Association's telecast team Thursday. Schrupp announced his initial two-week stint with NYRA via his twitter page Monday. "It's time to move from the past and start looking to the future," Schrupp said in the post. "And when you look at horse racing, the future looks really bright at the New York Racing Association. You look at the remodel of Belmont, and they will have the Breeders' Cup back there next year. So much...

Linda Rice earned her fourth consecutive and sixth overall trainer's title at the Aqueduct winter meet, which concluded Sunday, while also claiming the meet's leading owner honors. Rice trained the winners of 62 races at Aqueduct's final winter meet. "It feels good, a little happy and sad at the same time as it's our last winter meet at Aqueduct," said Rice, who was the leading trainer on the NYRA circuit in 2025. "Aqueduct has been a big part of New York racing history, and I'm glad to have been a...