New York Racing Association

NYRA Announces Belmont and Aqueduct Fall Stakes Schedules
Thursday, August 5, 2010
By Dan Silver

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has announced the stakes programs for the 2010 Belmont Fall Championship Meet and the 2010 Aqueduct Fall Meet, featuring more than 30 graded stakes races and nearly $9 million in purses. ... more

Average On-Track Handle Holds Steady at 2010 Belmont Park Spring/Summer Meet, All-Sources Off Only 2.3 Percent
Saturday, July 24, 2010
By Dan Silver

On-track handle held steady and all-sources handle slipped marginally at the 2010 Belmont Park Spring/Summer Meet compared to 2009 figures, decidedly outperforming industry-wide year-to-year decreases of 5.8 percent in June, 8.0 percent through the first six months of 2010, and double-digit handle drops at other recently-concluded spring thoroughbred meets, according to the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA). ... more

Dominguez, Pletcher, Dubb Top Belmont Meet
Monday, July 19, 2010
By Jenny Kellner

Ramon Dominguez Ramon Dominguez won his ninth straight riding title on The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit and Todd Pletcher topped the trainer standings Sunday at the conclusion of Belmont Park’s Spring/Summer Meet. Dominguez, the nation’s leading rider, finished the meet with 73 winners, 23 more than runner-up Javier Castellano, while Pletcher saddled 25 winners for his 22nd NYRA meet training title ... more

Stradivinsky Continues Hot Streak in Jaipur
Saturday, July 17, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Stradivinsky Stradivinsky gave his connections a quick return on their investment with a gate-to-wire victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Jaipur at Belmont Park. The 7-year-old gelding was an easy winner against claimers at Gulfstream Park on March 7 and at Arlington Park on May 1, inspiring trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. to claim the veteran for $50,000 when he posted another sharp victory at Churchill Downs on May 27 ... more

Belmont Park Notes
Friday, July 16, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Todd Pletcher One week from today, the gates will open at Saratoga Race Course for the 142nd time and Opening Weekend promises to be an exciting one with the Grade 3, $100,000 Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies on Friday, the Grade 1, $250,000 Betfair TVG Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday, the Grade 2, $150,000 Sanford for 2-year-olds on Sunday and the $75,000 Evan Shipman for New York-breds on Monday. ... more

Dunkin’ Donuts is Off to the Races with “40 Days at Saratoga” Sweepstakes -Contest offers 40 chances to win a VIP Clubhouse package at Saratoga Race Course
Friday, July 16, 2010
Contact: Mark Bardack

Dunkin’ Donuts will offer racing fans the chance to visit the “summer place to be” in style with a special in-store contest as part of its new partnership with The New York Racing Association at Saratoga Race Course. The “40 Days at Saratoga” sweepstakes provides Dunkin’ Donuts customers with the opportunity to win one of 40 VIP Clubhouse packages for a day at the races at Saratoga Race Course. One prize will be awarded for each day of racing during the extended 2010 meet. ... more

"Kiaran's Kids" Enjoy Summer Outing at Belmont Park
Thursday, July 15, 2010
By Ashley Herriman

Thursday was a great afternoon for a group of elementary school students from Elmont, starting with a behind-the-scenes backstretch tour of trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s barn and finishing with a winner’s circle celebration at Belmont Park ... more

New York Watch: Sovereign Default
Thursday, July 15, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Sovereign Default His name might be Sovereign Default, but the $95,000 his connections paid for him as a yearling is looking like a solid investment after the 2-year-old broke his maiden on debut Thursday at Belmont Park. With the victory, Sovereign Default joins the New York Watch series, profiling up-and-comers that have recently cleared the maiden ranks at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga. Sovereign Default’s ... more

Hats Off to Saratoga Festival, Coaching Club American Oaks Headline Opening Week Events at Saratoga Race Course
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Contact: Dan Silver, Mark Bardack

From a hat contest to a historic showcase of racing in years gone by, the thoroughbreds will receive a warm welcome as they take to the track for opening weekend of the 142nd season at Saratoga Race Course. ... more

Position Limit, by Steinbrenner’s Bellamy Road, Breaks Maiden on Debut at Belmont
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Position Limit George Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the New York Yankees who passed away Tuesday at the age of 80, was renowned for his will to win, and Position Limit helped keep that legacy alive today at Belmont Park when she broke her maiden impressively ... more

NYRA Expands In-House Drug Testing Program - Security Barn to Cease Operations as of Saratoga Meeting
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
By Dan Silver

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced plans today to expand and enhance its in-house drug testing program to detect illegal performance-enhancing substances in thoroughbred race horses utilizing state-of-the-art science, technology, and procedural processes. As a result, NYRA’s backstretch security barn, initiated in May 2005, ... more

The 19th Annual Hat Contest “Crowns” Opening Weekend Festivities at Saratoga Race Course
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Contact: Dan Silver, Mark Bardack

The fashionable festivities surrounding opening weekend at Saratoga Race Course will be filled to the brim with excitement as the Spa caps its first weekend of the 142nd summer meet with the 19th annual Hat Contest on Sunday, July 25. The annual Hat Contest is the highlight of the three-day “Hats Off to Saratoga” festival, ... more

Entries Open for 2nd Joe Hirsch Memorial Writing Award
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
By Dan Silver

Entries are now being accepted by The New York Racing Association, Inc., (NYRA) for the second annual Joe Hirsch Memorial Writing Award to recognize outstanding print and internet coverage of the Belmont Stakes. ... more

NYRA Statement on the Passing of George Steinbrenner
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
By Dan Silver

George Steinbrenner "We were extremely saddened to learn of Mr. Steinbrenner's passing," said NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward. "He had great enthusiasm for thoroughbred racing, and contributed his time and energy to the industry, both as an owner and as a NYRA ... more

Gates Swing Open Early at Saratoga Race Course for the 30th Annual Open House
Monday, July 13, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

The familiar gates of Saratoga Race Course will open five days early as the Spa prepares to host its annual pre-season preview party, the 30th annual Open House. A Saratoga tradition held prior to the start of racing season at North America’s most historic thoroughbred racetrack, Open House returns to offer a full day of attractions, games and activities on Sunday, July 18 ... more

Gio Ponti Mows Them Down in Man o’War
Saturday, July 10, 2010
By Ashley Herriman

Gio Ponti Reigning Turf Champion and Older Male Gio Ponti ran down 53-1 pacesetter Mission Approved in the final strides of the $600,000 Man o’War Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park to win consecutive runnings of the race and capture his fifth career Grade 1 victory ... more

Forbes' Firsters for Thursday, July 15
Saturday, July 10, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Forbes’ Firsters is a series that takes a glance at the pedigrees and sales histories of select 2-year-olds who are making their debuts in maiden special weight races at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, or Saratoga Race Course ... more

Forbes' Firsters for Wednesday, July 14
Saturday, July 10, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Belmont Park Notes
Friday, July 9, 2010
By Jenny Kellner

Escrow Kid The final stakes for Belmont Park’s spring/summer meet is next Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Jaipur Breeders’ Cup on the Widener Turf, with seven probables eyeing the six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up. Escrow Kid, recent winner of a stakes at Monmouth Park; Formidable, fourth in the Grade 2 True North ... more

From The Backstretch - Trainer Allen Jerkens
July 2010
On The Lead

Allen Jerkens Each month we’ll take a trip to the backstretch and visit with a different jockey or trainer. “The Chief” Allen Jerkens, who in 1975 became the youngest trainer inducted into the Hall of Fame, is our featured guest in July. The 81-year-old is also nicknamed “The Giant Killer” for the memorable upsets his horses have caused over the decades, having defeated the likes of Kelso, ... more

“Riders Up” with Mike Luzzi
Thursday, July 8, 2010
By Ashley Herriman

Mike Luzzi Jockey Mike Luzzi is featured in the fifth installment of NYRA’s newest video series “Riders Up,” now available on demand at http://www.nyra.com/ridersup/index.shtml. The series provides fans with a comprehensive look at the riders on the NYRA circuit, from the perspective of trainers, owners, and, of course, the jockeys themselves as they discuss their motivations and thoughts on riding in New York. ... more

NY-Breds Sweep Three Belmont Weekend Graded Stakes
Monday, July 5, 2010
By Jenny Kellner

Haynesfield It was a historic weekend at Belmont Park, as New York-bred horses swept all three graded races; Haynesfield impressively winning the Grade 2 Suburban on Saturday, Franny Freud running away with the Grade 1 Prioress on Sunday, and Rightly So hanging on in deep stretch to take Monday’s Grade 3 Bed o’ Roses Handicap by a head ... more

Rightly So Digs in for Bed o' Roses Victory
Monday, July 5, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Rightly So Rightly So rushed up to seize the early lead and called upon all of her courage in the final sixteenth of a mile to narrowly win the Grade 3, $150,000 Bed o’ Roses Handicap Monday at Belmont Park more

Franny Freud Gets First Grade 1 Score in Prioress
Sunday, July 4, 2010
By Ashley Herriman

Franny Freud Franny Freud kept her winning streak intact and picked up her first Grade 1 victory in the 63rd running of the $250,000 Prioress Sunday afternoon at Belmont Park. As Stormandaprayer led the field through blistering early fractions of 21.85 and 44.97, closely pursued by Champagne d’Oro and Bonnie Blue Flag, Franny Freud remained outside of the fray in fourth ... more

Belmont Park Notes
Sunday, July 4, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Haynesfield Grade 2 Suburban Handicap winner Haynesfield, who was the lone New York-bred in the race, came out of Saturday’s 1 1/8th mile effort in good order, said Toby Sheets, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen ... more

Haynesfield Keeps Streaking With Suburban Win; 'Revenge' 3rd
Saturday, July 3, 2010
By Jenny Kellner

Haynesfield Haynesfield enjoyed a perfect trip under Ramon Dominguez Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park to win the 124th running of the Grade 2, $300,000 Suburban Handicap as favored I Want Revenge settled for third in his comeback bid ... more

New York Watch: Boys At Tosconova
Saturday, July 3, 2010
By Dan Silver

Boys At Tosconova With an overwhelming maiden victory Friday at Belmont Park, Boys At Tosconova signaled his presence as an early contender for the juvenile stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The preliminary 103 Beyer Speed Figure that he registered is the fastest by a 2-year-old this year, and would be tied for eleventh best among 3-year-olds. ... more

New York Watch: Stopspendingmaria
Friday, July 2, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Stopspendingmaria What do you do after you lose a horse you named after a loved one to a claim? If you are Mike Repole, you buy another horse and also name it after that person. Stopspendingmaria, whom Repole named in honor of his wife, drew off in hand to break her maiden by seven lengths on Thursday at Belmont Park and become the first 2-year-old featured in the New York Watch Series, ... more

Belmont Park Notes
Friday, July 2, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Midnight Silver Trainer Carl Domino knows next Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Man o’War is a big step up for Midnite Silver, but the way the 4-year-old Silver Deputy colt won his last race and has been training since has him feeling optimistic more

Dominguez Wins Four at Belmont Park
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Ramon Dominguez Jockey Ramon Dominguez, the country’s leading rider, rode four winners from eight mounts on Wednesday afternoon at Belmont Park, his first quadruple score since the Belmont Park Spring/Summer Meet began on April 30. Dominguez, who came into Wednesday’s card with a one-race lead over Russell Baze in the 2010 North American jockey standings with a 178 wins, wasted no time padding his advantage ... more

Rachel Alexandra Arrives at Spa
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Rachel Alexandra Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra arrived at Saratoga Race Course Wednesday morning and was bedded down in her old stall at trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn near the Oklahoma Training Track. Arriving with Rachel Alexandra were graded stakes winners Friesan Fire and Thiskyhasnolimit, as well as several 2-year-olds. ... more