NYRA

A three-member panel assigned with the task of deciding whether or not the New York Racing Association was justified in punishing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert announced its decision late Thursday afternoon, issuing a one-year suspension from the NYRA tracks, effective immediately. In April, a hearing officer recommended that Baffert be suspended for two years, so Thursday's decision was not a complete loss for the embattled trainer. After a federal judge ordered that NYRA could not impose a ban on Baffert without affording the trainer due process, a hearing...

Some 9 1/2 years after being handed a 10-year ban by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, the predecessor of the New York Gaming Commission, trainer Rick Dutrow could be only a few months removed from a return to the racetrack. His last starter came on Jan. 16, 2013 at Aqueduct, meaning that he may be allowed to resume training by mid-January of next year. "Ricky is doing quite well and he really is in a great frame of mind," said trainer Tony Dutrow, Dutrow's brother. "He's excited...

Tournament veteran Tony Zhou bested a field of 68 horseplayers to capture the 2022 Belmont Stakes Challenge, which was contested online via NYRA Bets and on-track at Belmont Park during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Zhou, a 38-year-old New York City resident, took home $85,800 in prize money plus $52,945.50 in live bankroll for a total of $138,745.50. With the victory, Zhou secured a seat at the 2022 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge in November at Keeneland. The Belmont Stakes Challenge was a live-money contest featuring a $5,000 Entry Fee [$3,500...

Just days after the one-year anniversary of Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI)'s, ruling-off of trainer Bob Baffert over his repeated equine medication violations, the gaming corporation that controls the GI Kentucky Derby swatted back at the Hall of Fame trainer in federal court in an attempt to get a judge to dismiss a lawsuit initiated by Baffert that aims to reverse the two-year ban. "For the past eleven months, Bob Baffert has tried to dodge accountability for drugging Medina Spirit," CDI wrote in a reply brief filed June 6 in United...

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, in conjunction with the New York Racing Association, New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund has introduced a lucrative new purse enhancement for owners of New York Stallion-sired New York-breds competing on the NYRA circuit. Effective immediately, the 'New York-Sired Bonus' will provide an additional $5,000 to the winning owner of a New York-sired New York-bred who finishes first in all open company and New York-bred restricted maiden special weight, allowance, and allowance optional claiming races. The...

At an impasse with NYRA over health insurance benefits, the union representing assistant starters at Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga has informed the racing organization that it will wage a strike starting on the day of the GI Belmont S. if its demands are not met. With recent discussions between NYRA and Local 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers failing to produce a solution, the union served NYRA with a Notice of Intent to Strike. The union is asking for NYRA to pick up the health coverage from the...

A tough-to-separate baker's dozen of 3-year-old turf fillies will face off in Saturday's seven-furlong GIII Soaring Softly S. at Belmont, with many promising runners looking poised to jump into the division's upper echelon. Three horses, each from powerhouse barns, figure to vie for favoritism, and Chad Brown's Haughty (Empire Maker) was given the slight nod on the morning line at 5-2. Disqualified out of an impressive, 3 1/4-length first-out score debuting over a mile on the local turf Sept. 17, the $310,000 OBS April buy had no problem breaking her...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will sponsor the Saratoga Women In Business (WIB) Spectacular, the first-ever horse show created by women and operated by women to benefit women's health and showcase women in business. Open to all competitors, spectators, and vendors, the show will be held July 13-17 at White Hollow Farm in Stillwater, New York. "NYRA is pleased to support this spectacular new event designed to highlight women in business and raise critical funds for organizations supporting women's health and wellbeing," said Joi Garner, NYRA Senior Vice...

When the news was reported earlier in the week that a NYRA clocker had been charged with altering a published workout, it may have seemed at first that a significant penalty was in order. Workouts are an important part of a horse's history and gamblers must be able to have trust in their accuracy. The New York Gaming Commission is alleging that clocker Richie Gazer played around with the workout of a horse named Papi On Ice (Keen Ice) and suspended him for 30 days and fined him $2,500.  He...

Post times for the three-day 2022 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival--staged Thursday, June 9 through Saturday, June 11--has been set, according to the New York Racing Association. The Festival, which is highlighted by the 154th GI Belmont S., features 17 stakes, including eight Grade I races to be held om Belmont Day. Day 1 of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on Thursday, June 9 is a twilight racing program featuring nine races with a first post of 3:05 p.m. (EST). First post on the 11-race Friday, June 10 card is 12:50...

A New York Racing Association (NYRA) clocker has been suspended for 30 days and fined $2,500 "for altering a published work of a horse to make the horse eligible to race." A New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) ruling dated May 19 states that Richard Gazer, a NYRA employee, has appealed his penalties and has been granted a stay while that process plays out. But the ruling does not list any details about the circumstances, like the horse involved or the date of the alleged wrongdoing. Asked via email to...

A trio of 3-year-olds from the barn of Todd Pletcher took to the Belmont dirt training track Friday morning as they prepare for stakes engagements during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), who defeated GI Preakness S. hopeful Early Voting (Gun Runner) in the GII Wood Memorial S. Apr. 9 ahead of a closing fifth in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7, breezed a half-mile in the company of his GI Central Bank Ashland S.-winning stable companion Nest (Curlin) in :50.02. Owned by Donegal Racing and Repole...