NYRA

The Jockey Club has elected six new members: Len Coleman, who served alongside Dr. Nancy Cox as co-chair of the blue-ribbon nominating committee that was formed to select members of the board of directors and standing committees of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA); Dr. Nancy Cox, in addition to her aforementioned role, Cox is the vice president for Land Grant Engagement and the dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the University of Kentucky (UK). Also elected were Marc Holliday, who was elected chairman of...

Two licensed grooms were arrested Thursday on felony charges of cocaine possession and intent to sell after a police investigation of the Saratoga Race Course backstretch. The Saratoga Springs Police Department's Special Investigations Unit--who worked in tandem with the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office and New York Racing Association (NYRA) security--arrested Jose Hidalgo, 59, and Guadalupe Montesdecoa-Aguilar, 36, for possession of over 200 grams of cocaine. According to the Times-Union, the employees have worked for trainer Charlton Baker, who is not implicated in any criminal activity. Hidalgo and Montesdecoa-Aguilar have been...

The New York Racing Association will hold a day-long tribute and fundraiser for Ukraine at Saratoga Race Course Wednesday, Aug. 24, to correspond with the date of Ukraine's declared independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991. Fans are encouraged to wear yellow and blue in celebration of Ukraine and the Ukrainian flag will fly above the infield at Saratoga Race Course, adjacent to the American flag. Members of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), the largest nonprofit in the United States dedicated to advancing and supporting the role...

Since last summer, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) has trialed on thousands of runners a discreet sensor technology capable of detecting minute changes in a horse's gait at high speed. Called StrideSAFE, the biometric sensor mechanism slips into the saddle cloth and works like a traffic light signal, providing a green for all-clear, an amber for possible warning (light amber better than dark amber), and a red for possible danger. The ultimate aim of StrideSAFE--a focus of discussion during the recent Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Welfare and Safety of...

It was announced last week that in order to properly renovate and reimagine Belmont Park for 2023 and beyond, the New York Racing Association would be shifting this year's fall meet at Belmont to Aqueduct, and Wednesday, NYRA CEO Dave O'Rourke joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland as the Green Group Guest of the Week to discuss the process and future ramifications of this major capital investment in Big Sandy. O'Rourke said that the main objective of the construction project is the building of two major tunnels to...

Registration for the Fourstardave Handicapping Challenge scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 13 at Saratoga officially opened July 29, announced officials at NYRA. Participants may register through Friday, Aug. 12 at 5 p.m. ET on the official webpage with an option to either play online via NYRA Bets or on-track at Saratoga, where seating and lunch is included as part of the entry fee. The contest will run in conjunction with the 38th running of the one-mile GI $500,000 Fourstardave H. over the inner turf, a "Win and You're In" qualifier for...

The traditional fall meet at Belmont will instead be held at Aqueduct and kick off Sept. 15, the New York Racing Association announced Thursday. It is anticipated that racing will return to Belmont for the 2023 spring meet. The switch to Aqueduct will allow NYRA to undertake the first phases of what could be a major renovation of Belmont Park. Tunnels have been constructed at Belmont that will give construction vehicles access to the infield. The tunnels will also pave the way for pedestrians to have access to the infield....

by the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation The rule seems clear. What is also clear is that the rule, as written, was ignored on Thursday, July 21 at Saratoga, though by which party is unknown at present. "On behalf of aggrieved horseplayers who were impacted by the decision last Thursday, and all future players of multi-race bets in New York, we felt it necessary to seek clarification from the New York State Gaming Commission about the rules, why a seemingly arbitrary decision was made in the sequence and what customer expectations should...

Editor's note: This column is the first in our new series about the strides horse racing is making to advance the ethical treatment of racehorses. On many levels, those in horse racing and breeding are working to ensure the sport is humane and ethical. New studies and standards about track surfaces, stress, medications, diagnostics and more, shed light on how to ensure the safety and comfort of racehorses. Enforcement of anti-doping regulations has reached a new level with better use of surveillance, hotlines and other anti-crime tactics. And in the...

Edited Press Release The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will honor police officers, firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) for their dedication and service to the community on First Responders Day, Thursday, July 28. The day will feature free grandstand admission for all first responders with proper identification. "The New York Racing Association is honored to recognize the brave men and women who answer the call of duty to protect our communities," said NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke. "We hope our first responders will enjoy a relaxing...

Saratoga's seventh race Sunday, a 1 1/16-mile turf event for maiden juvenile fillies, was declared a no contest after a mechanical issue with the starting gate tractor caused an outrider to attempt to stop the field on the backstretch (click for replay). While the starting gate was ultimately moved in time and the majority of runners finished the race, several were pulled up prematurely. Towhead (Malibu Moon), a third-time starter stretching out off a pair of on-the-board efforts on the Churchill dirt and part of a 5-1 entry, battled back...

Jockeys know how to warm up their mounts, but they're also warming up their vocal cords in Saratoga and Del Mar in advance of the third annual "Riders Up! Battle of East-vs-West" jockey karaoke contests to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).The Saratoga jockeys are first out of the gate Sunday, July 31 at Vapor Night Club. NYRA track announcer Tom Durkin will emcee, and this year's judges are LRE Racing, racehorse owner Lee Einsidler, trainer Graham Motion, New York Racing Association Fox Sports host Laffit Pincay III, and...