NYRA

Longtime NYRA stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes will retire at the end of the Saratoga meet in September 2025, the organization announced Friday. "The New York Racing Association is proud to recognize and celebrate the career of Andrew Byrnes," said NYRA's Senior Vice President of Racing and Operations Andrew Offerman. "Andrew has invested much of his career working to showcase the best racing in North America at NYRA's racetracks. The consummate professional, we appreciate Andrew's willingness to provide advance notice of his retirement and his desire to ensure his replacement is...

The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) and the Jockeys' Guild agreed to a new scale of mount fees for jockeys who ride at NYRA tracks which will take effect Feb. 1, according to a Wednesday release from the Guild. Under the new fee agreement, jockeys will receive a minimum of a $125 losing mount fee for races at all NYRA racetracks as well as a $500 minimum fee in races with purses of $1 million or more. This scale also includes a 4th place incentive. "We have come to...

Due to the overwhelming demand in 2024, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) has adjusted the 2025 pre-sale for Belmont Stakes Day tickets to ensure the most equitable opportunity for fans to purchase reserved seating and hospitality, the organization announced Monday via press release. Beginning Jan. 28 and running through Jan. 31, fans will enter a drawing on the Belmont Stakes homepage to secure access to various pre-sale opportunities. The selections will be at random, and winners will be directed to select ticket preferences based on available inventory. Entering the...

After considering several options, trainer Kenny McPeek said Monday that newly minted Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) will make her four-year-old debut in the GII Azeri S. on March 8 at Oaklawn Park. That would give her time to make the April 5 G1 Dubai World Cup, but McPeek said he has all but ruled out a trip to the Middle East in order to run in the April 12 GI Apple Blossom S., also at Oaklawn. "The Azeri will be a good first step back for...

The New York racing Association (NYRA) will host a job fair Thursday, Feb. 13 for individuals interested in employment opportunities during the 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga, the organization announced Friday afternoon. Running just one day from 2-7:00 p.m. at the 1863 Club at the racecourse, prospective workers will be able to meet with a variety of groups representing several staffing positions, including mutuel clerks, cashiers, merchandise clerks, customer service, and restaurant staff. Applicants should enter through the Wright Street entrance (gate eight), and must be at least...

He is 22 months into a two-year contract to train privately in Saudi Arabia for Prince Faisal bin Khalid Al Saud, a move that rejuvenated his career, but Jimmy Jerkens said he is ready to come home. Jerkens told the TDN that when his contract expires in March he will return to U.S. and resume his career at the NYRA tracks. It's not that Jerkens hasn't done well in Saudi Arabia. He's had 21 winners during his time there. And it's not that he doesn't have any quality horses. "We've...

A New York Appellate Court has dismissed a complaint from two New York State taxpayers, Jannette Patterson and John Di Leonardo, who sought on behalf of PETA to prevent the state from loaning NYRA the $455 million it plans to use to rebuild Belmont Park. The court, the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department, was ruling on an appeal from the plaintiffs whose complaint was dismissed by an Albany County court in October of 2023. With the filing of the original lawsuit PETA said, in a...

Through an international exchange program, Cody Watkins, a steward of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), will serve as The Jockey Club-appointed steward at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) racetracks beginning in early January 2025, according to a Wednesday press release from The Jockey Club of America. "This is an exciting opportunity for Thoroughbred racing in the U.S. and abroad," said Stuart S. Janney III, chairman of The Jockey Club. "Racing is an international sport, and sharing ideas and information through programs such as this can only make the sport...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) reached a settlement of their dispute regarding HISA's fee assessment methodology, according to a Thursday press release from NYRA. As a result of the settlement, NYRA will withdraw from the litigation pending in the Western District of Kentucky and HISA will withdraw the enforcement action initiated against NYRA on Nov. 13, 2024. "HISA's ongoing work and overall mission are critically important to the future of thoroughbred horse racing," said NYRA President & CEO David O'Rourke....

Jockey Dylan Davis earned 209 wins across six race meets in 2024 to pace all riders and secure top honors as the leading rider at the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA). This is Davis's second year-end NYRA title, adding to a 2022 campaign which saw him win 186 races. This year, Davis, who is represented by agent Mike Migliore, scored a pair of meet titles at the Aqueduct winter [54] and Belmont at the Big A fall [44] meets. "It means a lot," said Davis. "Me and Mike put...

Riders and valets at Aqueduct delayed the start of Sunday's card by 14 minutes after refusing to saddle and ride because of a dispute with management over the status of a jockey's room employee, according to DRF Sunday. Valet Harry Rice told DRF that Fernando Rivera, who works in the jockey's room as a part-time valet/laundry person, was asked by NYRA not to come in Sunday. To offer some context, Rice explained that Rivera is close to having enough hours to join the union, which would make him eligible to...

Bill Knauf, a long-time executive at Monmouth Park, has been named the president and general manager of the non-profit entity the Maryland Jockey Club Inc. that is set to take control of Maryland's two major Thoroughbred tracks starting Jan. 1. The announcement of his hiring was made by the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Authority (MTRA), a non-profit group modeled after the New York Racing Association, which operates racing at Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga. The Maryland tracks were transferred to the MTRA by The Stronach Group, which donated them to the state...