NYRA

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will significantly increase purses on overnight races during the fall meet at the new Belmont Park, which will open for live racing Sept. 18, the track said via a Thursday press release. NYRA has increased purses in the open allowance category by 15 percent from $100,000 to $115,000. In addition, first-level optional-claiming events will be offered for $105,000 and second-level optional-claiming races will be offered for $108,000. Maiden special weight races will receive an 18 percent increase from $85,000 to $100,000, while New...

The New York Racing Association has created the Belmont Stakes Scholarships, a new initiative that will award five $3,000 scholarships annually to graduating seniors pursuing higher education, NYRA announced Tuesday. The students will be selected from the Sewanhaka Central High School District, which includes Sewanhaka High School, Elmont Memorial High School, Floral Park Memorial High School, H. Frank Carey High School, and New Hyde Park Memorial High School. Applications for the scholarship are now open, with awards supporting students who will attend an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or...

The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, and New York Racing Association (NYRA) have partnered with the TAKE2 Program to donate $20,000 in prize money for two Thoroughbred Classics. The first $10,000 TAKE2 Thoroughbred Hunter Classic will be held on the morning of Friday, July 10, at the Saratoga Women in Business Spectacular, and the second on the morning of Friday, August 14, at the Saratoga Summer Horse Show. In addition to the prize money, the winners of the two Classics each will...

The New York Racing Association will host a job fair for individuals interested in securing employment during the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which opens Friday, July 3, and continues through Monday, September 7, NYRA announced Thursday. The job fair will take place Thursday, May 21, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. inside the 1863 Club at Saratoga Race Course. Applicants should enter through the Wright Street entrance (Gate 8) with parking available in the adjacent lot. Available positions include mutuel clerks, cashiers, merchandise clerks, customer service, maintenance and...

My obsessive nature has been consumed by this Triple Crown spacing mess. It was obvious that Cherie DeVaux was going to decide to skip the Preakness, although I think she was pure in her process. If the industry is trying to grow its appeal beyond the Derby, AND NYRA won't budge from its traditional June date--and for the life of me, I don't know why--why doesn't the Preakness, now with Churchill Downs at the helm, best market the Preakness, and often the Triple Crown, and leapfrog the early June Belmont...

HONG KONG, CHINA--Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges is at the helm of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, an international racing powerhouse, for nearly two decades. He has navigated Hong Kong Racing through financial crises, political upheaval and a pandemic, and never let anyone think that his visionary sight had lost its compass. In the conversation that follows, recorded on the eve of the HKJC's international race meeting, the chairman of both the Asian Racing Federation and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities once again covered ground that will resonate well beyond Hong Kong--from...

Michelle Cuozzo Borisenok has been elected as the new president of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, the organization's chairman Terry Finley announced Thursday. Celebrating its 40th year of service to the New York backstretch community, the Chaplaincy was previously headed by Hall of Fame jockey Ramon Dominguez, who will remain as a board member. "It is hard to adequately convey the countless ways Ramon Dominguez helps our organization thrive and we are thrilled that he has agreed to stay involved as a member of our board of directors," Finley...

The Belmont Park Mini Plans, a new membership program to begin in 2027 designed to provide flexible access to premium hospitality and preferred seating, was launched by The New York Racing Association, Inc. on Wednesday. A limited number of Mini Plans are currently available for the Triple Crown Loge Boxes. Located on the third floor of Belmont Park, the Triple Crown level will offer in-seat tablets for wagering and race viewing, along with lounge seating. The Triple Crown Mini Plan guarantees a loge box for 12 total race days including...

The Supreme Court for the State of New York (New York County) on Thursday entered a summary judgment related to a lawsuit originally filed in 2022 that involves disputes dating to 2017 between performance-figure provider Thoro-Graph, Inc., and the New York Racing Association (NYRA). On Apr. 9, 2026, the judge in the case, Lyle Frank, wrote that, "plaintiff Thoro-Graph, Inc., is entitled to summary judgment on liability for their first cause of action as against defendant NYRA, with damages and an award of reasonable attorneys' fees to be determined at...

After being delayed due to punishing winter weather in January and February, and with continued overnight cold extending into March, turf racing will return Thursday, Apr. 16 at the Big A, NYRA announced Sunday afternoon. The eight-race card has four turf contests slated to go at Aqueduct and will still commence earlier than both 2024 and 2025 despite the two-week delay. A six-furlong maiden sprint on the outer turf for fillies and mares will inaugurate grass racing in Race 4 and sophomore fillies will run a mile maiden special in...

The opening date for the Oklahoma Training Track and barn area at Saratoga Race Course is scheduled for Apr. 15, with training on the Oklahoma set to begin Monday, Apr. 20, according to a NYRA release Tuesday. The Oklahoma barn area will open to licensed trainers and staff. Beginning Apr. 20 and continuing until the start of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on June 3, the Whitney Viewing Stand will be open to fans Wednesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Last year, NYRA extended the operating hours of...

Make that two spots in the starting gate reserved for the Bernhard Family's Pin Oak Stud and trainer Riley Mott in the GI Kentucky Derby. Albus (Yaupon), a visually impressive maiden winner at third asking at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 27, punched his ticket to Louisville with an 11-1 upset in Saturday's GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct. Fellow longshots Right to Party (Constitution) and Ocelli (Connect) were second and third, respectively. Favored GIII Gotham S. winner Iron Honor (Nyquist) tired to seventh after getting bumped hard on the clubhouse...