NYRA

Because of the coronavirus and the resulting cancellations, comparing 2020 handle numbers to 2019 numbers is an inexact science. But something clearly has gone right for NYRA this year. Entering December, the daily average all-sources handle number for NYRA races was $11,829,355, a 19.6% increase from this time last year when an average of $9,894,226 had been pushed through the windows. For the year overall, NYRA's all-sources handle is down 14.2%, a modest decrease when considering that the amount of races offered has dropped by 25.1%. That the increase in...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. has announced that it will continue its longtime support of the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation, which is being conducted virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NYRA encourages fans to donate at https://www.toysfortots.org/donate/ during the upcoming virtual weekend of giving on Friday, Dec. 4; Cigar Mile Day on Saturday, Dec. 5; and on Sunday, Dec. 6. Members of the Marine Corps Reserve will use the funds to collect and distribute new and unwrapped toys for children and families during...

The Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP) and the University of Louisville have announced a 16-hour continuing education course to be held live online Monday, Dec. 14 and Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Both sessions begin at 8:00 a.m. ET and finish each day at 5:00 p.m. ET. Speakers during the live online sessions include: Alex Waldrop - CEO and President of the NTRA; Dr. Will Farmer - Churchill Downs Equine Medical Director; Barbara Borden - Chief State Steward, Kentucky Racing Commission; Hugh Gallaher - Safety Steward, NYRA; et al. Registration is...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and TVG have announced a series of COVID-19 relief donations for a broad spectrum of non-profit organizations working to support the Thoroughbred racing community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $410,000 in charitable contributions will be distributed to seven non-profit organizations including the New York Chapter of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America (NYRTCA), the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T), the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA), the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC), the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP), the Permanently...

The Stronach Group, Breeders' Cup Ltd., Churchill Downs Inc., Keeneland, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and the New York Racing Association, Inc. have agreed to jointly fund North America's largest study on the effects of furosemide and on the prevalence and severity of Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) in 2-year-old racehorses. The study, formally titled Furosemide: Its Effects on the Prevalence and Severity of Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) and the Immune System's Normal Response to Exercise in Two-Year-Old Racehorses, began this month and is being led by...

James C. Brady, a longtime Thoroughbred owner and breeder and officer of The Jockey Club, passed away at his home in Bedminster, N.J., Thursday, Oct. 22. He was 85. On behalf of his brother, Nicholas Brady, a former chairman of The Jockey Club, U.S. Senator, and Treasury Secretary, and sisters Lisa Richards and Eliot Stewart, Brady managed Mill House Racing Stable, which raced prominent runners America Alive (American Chance), Brilliant (War Chant), Trappe Shot (Tapit), and Rattlesnake Bridge (Tapit). Born in New York, N.Y., to parents James C. and Eliot...

NYRA released its COVID-19 protocols Saturday for jockeys riding at the Aqueduct fall meet, which runs from Nov. 6 to Dec. 6. Members of the Aqueduct jockey colony who travel to ride at any other racetrack during the fall meet will be required to provide two negative COVID-19 tests taken within a five-day window in order to return to ride at Aqueduct. Jockeys traveling out of state who have completed the required testing will then be physically isolated in the jockey quarters for three additional calendar days. Jockeys not currently...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Friday that it has partnered with FOX Sports to present live coverage and analysis of Great Britain's richest race day, QIPCO British Champions Day from Ascot Racecourse. Saturday's special broadcast will air on FS2 from 8:30-11 a.m. Eastern and feature four Group 1 races for 3-year-olds and up, headlined by the £750,000 QIPCO Champion S. and the £650,000 Queen Elizabeth II S., sponsored by QIPCO. Post time for the 10-furlong Champion S. will be 10:40 a.m., with the Queen Elizabeth II at...

The New York Racing Association announced Thursday the schedules for the 2020-21 winter and spring meets at Aqueduct Racetrack. In addition, NYRA announced that the purse increases now in effect across a number of categories at the Belmont Park fall meet will be extended to the fall, winter and spring meets at Aqueduct. Purses for open claiming and maiden claiming races at NYRA are the highest in the country. The open $25,000 claiming category will see a $4,000 increase to $50,000, while the $40,000 maiden-claiming condition will now offer a...

With impressive gains in handle and with the reopening of the casino at Aqueduct, NYRA will increase purses starting Oct. 18 and for the remainder of the Belmont meet. Like many tracks, NYRA was forced to make purse cuts due to COVID-19 related problems that reduced revenue sources. Rather than an across-the-board purse increase, NYRA will put more money into certain categories, in particular maiden races. The purse for an open maiden special weight race will go from $63,000 to $80,000. New York-bred maidens will see a purse increase from...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. will host the Cross Country Pick 5, encompassing five Grade I contests from Belmont Park and Keeneland Race Course Saturday, Oct. 3. The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool. The Cross Country Pick 5 is comprised of: Leg 1 - Belmont, R7: GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (4:03 p.m.) Leg 2 - Keeneland, R8: GI First Lady (4:51 p.m.) Leg 3 - Belmont, R9: GI Belmont Derby Inv. (5:06...

America's Day at the Races returns this week on FOX Sports and MSG Networks to provide coverage and analysis of racing from Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Delaware Park, the New York Racing Association announced Wednesday. After a summer hiatus, the show resumes Thursday with live racing from Churchill Downs and Delaware Park, before transitioning Friday-opening day of the 27-day Belmont Park fall meet--for complete coverage of this weekend's live racing from Belmont Park and Churchill Downs. Produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, the acclaimed national telecast airs...