New York Racing

After being implemented and put into effect on Thursday, NYRA, citing a need to upgrade its tote system, announced Friday that the new "guardrail rails" put in place regarding Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW) will not go into effect until Feb. 11. With winter weather having knocked out the Saturday and Sunday cards at Aqueduct, the 11th is the next scheduled day of racing. "The guardrails requiring CAW activity to cease at 1 MTP have been suspended today to allow for technical upgrades to the tote system," read a NYRA statement....

The Board of Directors of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) held its first meeting of 2026 on Thursday, Feb. 5 and unanimously elected Rockridge Stud's Lere Visagie, to serve as president through 2028, the organization said in a press release on Friday. Current NYTB Director Rick Burke, owner of Irish Hill Century Farm, was elected vice president. The Board also elected Jane McMahon, of McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, to serve as secretary-treasurer. Visagie, owner of Rockridge, has served as an NYTB Director since 2019 and succeeds Dr. Scott Ahlschwede,...

After announcing in December at the Global Symposium on Racing in Tuscon, Arizona that it would be taking steps to limit Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW play) within the coming months, NYRA announced Friday that the new rules will go into effect on Feb. 5. Calling the measures new "guardrails," NYRA revealed at the Arizona symposium that all CAW play will eventually cease at one minute to post in all pools. CAW players can still bet after the one-minute time limit, but they will be restricted to six bets or fewer...

On Thursday in Palm Beach, Bob Duncan was honored with a Special Eclipse Award for Career Excellence acknowledging his contribution to the sport of horse racing through his work at the starting gate. I loudly applaud the NTRA, DRF and National Turf Writers & Broadcasters for recognizing Bob's unique talent and gift to racing with this award. I applaud Bob himself for his approach to his craft and the shining example he has set in handling horses with respect as partners in winning races. Bob and his craft are known...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has canceled Saturday's live racing program at Aqueduct Racetrack due to arctic temperatures and sub-zero wind chill values forecast to impact the metropolitan area throughout the day, the association said in a press release on Friday morning. Additionally, Laurel Park in Maryland has also canceled their 10-race Saturday card due to the expected frigid temperatures. As previously reported, NYRA has also shifted Sunday's live racing program to Wednesday due to a powerful winter storm expected to bring heavy snowfall to the region. Saturday's...

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and trainer Rudy Rodriguez have reached an agreement that will end Rodriguez's provisional suspension and allow him to return to training, HISA and Rodriguez announced jointly in a statement released Tuesday. His suspension will officially end on Wednesday. Rodriguez has not started a horse since Dec.  13. Rodriguez's problems began in November when HISA alleged that the NYRA-based trainer had violated rules related to "cruelty, mistreatment, neglect or abuse" of Thoroughbreds. At that time, HISA served Rodriguez with a "notice of violation and...

Paladin (Gun Runner), the winner of the GII Remsen Stakes at the Big A Dec. 6, will according to his trainer Chad Brown point to the Feb. 14 running of the GII Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, which is tabbed as a GI Kentucky Derby qualifier offering 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers. The $1.9-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling purchase, owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook T. Smith and Summer Wind Equine, broke his maiden on debut in Ozone Park Oct....

What will racing look like in 10 years? We asked some of racing's best and brightest to give us their predictions. Want to submit an answer? Email suefinley@thetdn.com NAJJA THOMPSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS, INC. By 2036, I envision a Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry that has emerged stronger and more sustainable after confronting--and resolving--many of the structural challenges we face today. While the continued retraction of operating racetracks is likely unavoidable over the next decade, the remaining venues will be more strategically aligned with year-round...

The topic of the diminishing North American Thoroughbred foal crop (estimated 17,000 for 2026) came up several times during last week's Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program in Tucson. This is often referred to as our industry's "horse shortage" problem. I try to avoid that term in my reporting unless I am directly quoting someone who says it. Instead, the sport has long been dealing with an "owner shortage." Breeders stand ready and willing to start producing more racehorses if only more...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has canceled live racing at Aqueduct Racetrack on Sunday due to a winter storm impacting the New York City area, the track said in an early morning press release on Sunday. The message said that South Ozone Park remains under a winter weather advisory with forecasts calling for continued snow, low wind chill values and high winds. Aqueduct Racetrack will remain open for simulcasting, and online wagering is available via NYRABets.com. Live racing will resume following the holiday break on Friday, Dec. 26...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) had added one day of live racing on Wednesday, Dec. 10 as part of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, the organization said via a Wednesday release. Following the cancellation of live racing after the completion of the first race on Sunday, Nov. 30, NYRA, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) and New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) requested and have received formal approval from the New York State Gaming Commission to conduct live racing Dec. 10. Entries for the card will...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has canceled live racing at Aqueduct Racetrack on Friday due to high winds forecast to impact the New York City metropolitan area, the organization said in a release that same morning. The National Weather Service has placed Southern Queens under a wind advisory beginning at 12 p.m. ET, with current forecasts calling for sustained high winds and gusts in excess of 45 mph. Two Listed $150,000 stakes originally scheduled for Friday--the Tempted and the Pumpkin Pie--have been rescheduled. The Tempted will now be...