NYRA

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...

Officials at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) have announced a charitable campaign in support of the trainers, staff and backstretch workers impacted by the early Tuesday barn fire at the Saratoga Casino Hotel Harness Track. The initiative will first include a $50,000 contribution from NYRA to the Saratoga Harness Horseperson's Association (SHHA) to assist those affected by the fire. Additionally, NYRA will host a fundraiser on opening day of the meet at Saratoga Race Course July 3 where fans will have the opportunity to purchase a specially designed T-shirt....

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

The "guardrails" put in place by the NYRA in an attempt to limit the wagering of the computer assisted wagering players (CAW) had a clear impact over the five-day Belmont Stakes Festival at Saratoga. Over the five days, CAW players bet a combined $22,109,626, a major drop from 2025 when they wagered $39,989,964. That represents a decrease of 44.7%. The CAW play in 2026 accounted for 11% of the total handle. In 2025, that figure was 20.2% of handle. Beginning Feb. 5, NYRA began requiring CAW activity to cease at...

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...

In a Zoom call with members of the racing media, NYRA lifted the curtain Friday regarding the drop in Computer Assisted Wagering play after the racing organization put certain "guardrails" in place intended to limit the wagers of the CAW players. In July 2021, NYRA became the first racing organization in the United States to establish a timing restriction for CAW activity, shutting off the win pool to CAW players with two minutes to post. A more significant step was taken in Dec. 2025 when CAW players were not allowed...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has updated protocols to further enhance fan safety and security while supporting the longstanding cooler policy tradition at historic Saratoga Race Course, the track said via a press release on Friday. Fans bringing coolers to Saratoga Race Course will be required to ensure all ice is contained inside sealed bags upon arrival at the admission gates. The policy will take effect with the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, June 3-7, and will continue during the Saratoga summer meet, July 3-Sept. 7. The initiative is...

The Belmont Big Apple Bonus, a new initiative created to reward owner and trainer participation at the new Belmont Park, will kick off in September, according to the New York Racing Association, Inc. on Tuesday. Scheduled to launch with the opening of the fall meet on Sept. 18, the Big Apple Bonus will provide up to $8,500 in awards per horse shipping or relocating to Belmont Park from other racing jurisdictions. Owners and trainers currently based at NYRA are fully eligible for these bonuses, which complement the record overnight purses...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. and the Elmont Chamber of Commerce will host the return of the Paul Sapienza Elmont/Belmont Parade, which will be held on Saturday, May 30, NYRA announced Tuesday. This year marks the 18th edition of the parade, which serves as the traditional kickoff to the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and celebrates the Elmont community. The parade is named in honor of the late Paul Sapienza, a lifelong Elmont resident and former president of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce. This year's parade will posthumously honor Nassau...

The trio of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Emerging Market (Candy Ride {Arg}), Ottinho (Quality Road)and Growth Equity (Nyquist) trained by five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown and the 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Chief Wallabee (Constitution) for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott worked Saturday across Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park in preparation for the GI Belmont Stakes at the Spa June 6, the NYRA press office said in a Saturday release. The pair of Ottinho and Growth Equity worked in company over the Belmont Park dirt...

The New York Backstretch Employees Pension Trust has a bit of a "well-kept secret" shroud to it. Even longtime Thoroughbred owners who compete on the New York Racing Association (NYRA) circuit are sometimes unaware that a pension fund exists for the backstretch workers, and that 2% of the purses at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course are invested toward the retirements of the people who provide daily, hands-on care for horses. Despite the under-the-radar nature of the fund, those who oversee it are continually trying to make sure...