NYRA

Trainer Marcus Vitali, who has not started a horse at a NYRA track since 2021, will make his  return to the Big Apple Friday when he sends out Classy Lass (Classic Empire) in Friday's fifth race at the Belmont At The Big A meet. The race is a $17,500 claimer on the dirt. The Daily Racing Form's David Grening was first with the story. Vitali, who has numerous violations on his record, reached an accord with NYRA July 1, 2022 in which he agreed to a suspension. But NYRA was...

Revel at the Races, a night of live music and hospitality held Thursday, June 5 at the Night Owl in Saratoga Springs, will open the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga weekend, Sports Illustrated announced Thursday. In partnership with The New York Racing Association, Inc., this event will be headlined by artist and rapper G-Eazy. Tickets are on sale now and are available here. The event follows the successful second annual late-night Revel at the Races held during Kentucky Derby Weekend. "Revel at the Races is a natural extension of Sports Illustrated's...

The Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm program, which previously ran Wednesdays through Saturdays, will now operate Thursdays to Sundays during the 2025 Saratoga season to better accommodate family schedules, NYRA announced Tuesday. This year's Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm tours, presented by New York Thoroughbred Breeders, will feature three area farms: Old Tavern Farm, Sugar Plum Farm and Song Hill Thoroughbreds. The tours will be available every Thursday through Sunday during the 2025 Saratoga summer meet, beginning with Opening Day, Thursday, July 10, and continuing through Sunday, August 31. The...

Pending relevant licensing, Scott Jordan will take over the post of head starter at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) tracks beginning May 23, the organization announced Monday afternoon. With more than 20 years of experience in the position and a tenure at Churchill Downs which began in 2006, Jordan has also worked roles at Keeneland, Ellis Park, and Kentucky Downs. In addition to managing NYRA's team of assistant starters and starting gate operations at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga, he will also work with trainers and riders to aide...

When lawmakers passed the New York State budget Thursday, the package included a gift for horseplayers. Starting Sept. 1, New York will join Kentucky and Washington as the only racing states to break payoffs to the penny. However, the bill allows for nickel breakage on on-track wagers, provided all breakage proceeds are dedicated to aftercare funding. It was not immediately clear which tracks would adopt the penny breakage and which would chose the nickel-breakage package. Both NYRA and Gov. Kathy Hochul were supportive of the move to penny breakage. "The...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and Mohegan Sun have agreed on a multi-year partnership resulting in the return of Mohegan Sun as an official casino partner of Saratoga Race Course and the presenting sponsor of the GII Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, the track said via a release on Thursday. The Jim Dandy is a nine-furlong route for sophomores scheduled on Saturday, July 26. The race is the traditional local prep for the GI DraftKings Travers Stakes set for Aug. 23. In addition to their continued...

Stall applications for the July 4th Racing Festival and 40-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course are now available online, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced in a press release Friday. Typically held at Belmont Park, the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga is set for Thursday, July 3, through Sunday, July 6. The July 4th Racing Festival, which is highlighted by the GI Belmont Derby Invitational July 4 and the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational July 5, will serve as a prelude to the traditional summer meet and...

A multi-year agreement between The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and Emerald Ecovations has been forged, according to a NYRA release Tuesday. Emerald Ecovations will serve as NYRA's preferred sustainable products partner. "NYRA is committed to reducing its environmental footprint and maintaining its positive impact on our surrounding communities," said Kevin Quinn, NYRA's Vice President of Sales and Hospitality. "We are pleased to partner with Emerald Ecovations to work together on implementing staple products across our tracks that will assist with waste reduction." Emerald Ecovations will provide a variety...

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) is rolling out a participation incentive program for owner and trainers during the five-day 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course in early June, the track said in a release on Friday. Owners will be eligible for a starter bonus for horses finishing fourth through last with $1,500 awarded for stakes starters and $1,000 awarded to owners of starters in overnight races. Trainers whose horses start in stakes races that week will receive a $750 bonus, while a $500 bonus will be...

Prominent owner Michael Dubb, founder and chairman of the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA) and member of the Board of Directors of the New York Racing Association (NYRA), has been recognized by the New York Islanders with the 2025 Charles B. Wang Community Service Award. The New York Islanders, a professional ice hockey team, honored Dubb at the UBS Arena at Belmont Park Thursday evening. In addition to the award, which recognizes leaders within the Metro New York community who have made a profound impact on the lives of individuals,...

Attorneys for former New York Racing Association head starter Hector Soler have filed suit against NYRA in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, alleging discrimination, retaliation in the workplace, and misclassification as an employee exempt from earning overtime. The suit was filed Tuesday by attorneys Nadia Prevez, Aneeba Rehman, and Andrew Mollica, and seeks compensatory damages, back pay, and punitive damages. Soler worked at NYRA for 25 years, starting as a part-time assistant starter and working his way up to the role of head starter in...

FanDuel TV, the New York Racing Association (NYRA), Keeneland, and Santa Anita will team up with Hall of Fame jockeys along with active riders and other prominent personalities Apr. 19 to raise money for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) via the seventh annual telethon event. According to the release sent Monday afternoon, the event will be broadcast on both FanDuel TV and America's Day at the Races on the FOX Sports family of networks as well as streamed on tvg.com. Fans can participate by calling 1-844-884-7353 on Saturday, Apr....