New York Racing

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...

Officially kicking off its fourth season, the Empire Racing Club (ERC) will offer a reduced membership price of $400 through the official re-launch date of May 1. Membership dues for both new and returning members will be $475 beginning May 2, 2022. Membership is open to both licensed and unlicensed enthusiasts looking to enjoy the social and educational benefits of the Club. The ERC will once again be managed by famed race-caller Tom Durkin. Training the current roster of runners for the 2022 season are Hall of Famer Mark Casse;...

Edited Press Release Albany, NY--We Are NY Horse Racing held its first Lobby Day Thursday to educate lawmakers about the importance of horse racing to the New York State economy. Dozens of stakeholders from a variety of organizations, non-profits, and labor unions joined together to educate lawmakers about a sport that drives an industry responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact. "The sport of horse racing has given me an opportunity to join an industry that truly supports me," said exercise rider Francisco Eduardo...

   The TDN's 'Let's Talk'--a podcast series featuring TDN's Christina Bossinakis and TVG's on-air analyst Gabby Gaudet, offers candid discussion on personal, and sometimes sensitive, topics that are often uncomfortable for many to speak about in an open forum.    The latest edition presents a trio of successful trainers--New York's David Donk, Ron Moquett, who is principally based at Oaklawn Park and Churchill Downs and Kentucky horseman Brad Cox, who was honored with his second Eclipse Award as the nation's leading trainer at the awards ceremony held at Santa Anita...

Never has the pressure been greater on the Thoroughbred trainer than it is today. Facing increasing scrutiny and regulations, as well as the backlash felt from the federal indictments and censure of a barrel full of 'bad apples,' trainers are forced to ply an already labor-intensive trade in an atmosphere that is often harsh and unforgiving. This edition of 'Let's Talk' offers a closer look at the ever-evolving profession, featuring two-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Brad Cox, longtime New York horseman David Donk and Ron Moquett, who is based at...

Manny Franco, who has been among the winningest riders on the tough NYRA circuit for the last several years, has fired his agent, Hall of Famer Angel Cordero Jr. "It's true," Cordero said Tuesday by text. "There's no problem. He just wants to do better. I don't blame him. Everybody wants to be No. 1." In 2020, Cordero was also dismissed by Hall of Famer John Velazquez after working as his agent for 22 years. Cordero, 79, is still the agent for apprentice Jose Gomez. He has not yet found...

When John Jayko, the owner of Fedwell Farms, first approached Eddie Fazzone about an unraced New York-bred 2-year-old he had for sale, Fazzone had modest expectations. Fazzone, the owner of Eddie F's Eatery in Saratoga Springs, didn't have a lot of money to spend and the horse was by a sire, Emcee, who had never so much as produced a stakes winner. But the price was right and Fazzone was looking to expand his small stable. A deal was struck. "We're not buying horses for $250,000, $500,000," Fazzone said. "We're...

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law Wednesday a bill prohibiting the slaughter of racehorses and racehorse breeding stock for a commercial purpose; requiring that all racehorses competing in the state, as well as all horses used for breeding purposes, be microchipped; requiring that the state's Thoroughbred and Standardbred breeding funds set aside money for aftercare programs and put all funds raised through fines relating to be used to support aftercare; amending the tax law to allow individuals and corporations to contribute to aftercare facilities; and mandating a public...

Backed by a number of animal rights groups, two New York state lawmakers have introduced a bill that would end payments made to the state's racing and breeding industries from slot machine or video lottery terminal (VLT) revenue. According to a press release issued Wednesday by the animal rights group NYCLASS, the bill would cancel out the $230-million payment made annually to horse racing and breeding and will redirect the money to "help New York's taxpayers, schools, workers and other social programs." NYCLASS has led the effort to ban carriage...

"We Are NY Horse Racing," a coalition of small businesses, unions, non-profits, and trade organizations designed to educate New Yorkers about the importance of horse racing to the state's economy, has launched and gained statewide support. According to a 2018 published study by the American Horse Council, horse racing in New York State is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact. The broader equine industry is New York's second-largest agribusiness and the sport of horse racing sustains hundreds of small businesses on and around...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. announced the stakes schedule for the 28-day fall meet at Belmont Park, which will include 20 graded stakes, including 47 stakes worth $11.15 million in purses. The fall meet, which will run from Thursday, Sept. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 31 will offer four Grade I races and five "Win and You're In" qualifiers to the Breeders' Cup in November at Del Mar. The first Breeders' Cup qualifier is the $1-million Jockey Club Derby for 3-year-olds going 1 1/2 miles on the turf Sept. 18....

The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) unanimously advanced a rule proposal Tuesday that seeks to end the resource-draining practice of jockeys appealing riding infractions during big-money race meets like at Saratoga, then withdrawing those protests once the meet is over for the sole purpose of delaying a suspension until it is more convenient for the penalized rider to serve the days. The proposed rule, which first must be published in the state lawmaking register and then be subject to a public commentary period before coming up again for a...