New York Racing Association

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...

Richard "Richie" Brosseau, the head starter at the NYRA tracks from 2003 to 2007, passed away Sept. 5. He was suffering from a number of illnesses, including leukemia. A native of Montreal, Brosseau started out in harness racing before coming to the New York Thoroughbred tracks in the early 1970s. He accepted a job as an assistant starter in 1976 before working his way up to head position. He retired in 2007. In 2011, he became a U.S. citizen. "He was a really, really good guy," said Raymond DeStefano, who...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Even without spectators on the grounds, the 152nd summer of racing in Saratoga produced a total betting handle of $702.5 million that was remarkably close to last year's record figure of $705.3 million. The daily average handle for the 40-day meet in 2020 was $17.6 million and the daily average handle for the weather-shortened 39-day meet in 2019 was $18.1 million. The season concluded Monday as quietly as it began July 16, with a program conducted without fans, in compliance with New York State's COVID-19 protocols...

Luis Grandison, a Black Latino who is a native of Panama and who served as the New York Racing Association's Spanish language race caller from 2014 through March 2020, has sued NYRA claiming he was discriminated against because he was paid less than white Americans who call the races in English. According to a suit filed Tuesday in Brooklyn Federal Court, Grandison was paid $60,000 a year. The suit claims that long-time NYRA announcer Tom Durkin earned $440,000 a year before retiring in 2014 and that his replacement, Larry Collmus,...

Saratoga's first post time Friday has been pushed back to 2:10 p.m. ET due to an ongoing technical issue with AmTote, the New York Racing Association's tote system provider. Friday's card, which was slated to begin at 1:10 p.m., includes the Skidmore S., a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-olds which will be run as the third race.

For the third consecutive meeting over a seven-month span, the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) Monday again declined to take up any discussion of whip rule reform. Possible changes to whipping rules were initially brought up at the NYSGC's December 2019 meeting. Since that time, a number of other major racing jurisdictions--including California, Kentucky, Maryland and New Jersey--have all advanced changes in whip rules at the commission level that are designed to be more humane to horses. Near the conclusion of the 14-minute teleconference meeting July 27, commissioner Peter...

All-sources handle for Saratoga's 2020 opening weekend totaled $80,325,660, a 9.4% increase over last year's opening weekend, which generated $73,441,101 from all sources. Saratoga's recently completed opening weekend, Thursday through Sunday, corresponds with the four-day period in 2019 from Thursday, July 11 to Sunday, July 14.

Luis Saez will be cleared to ride at Saratoga Friday pending the completion of a 14-day quarantine period, a negative COVID-19 test and clearance from a physician noting that he can no longer transmit the virus, the New York Racing Association announced Sunday. Saez tested positive for COVID-19 July 10 while riding at Keeneland Race Course. He has remained asymptomatic throughout the period of quarantine, which will total 14-days July 24. Current Centers for Disease Control (C.D.C.) guidance recommends a 10-day quarantine period for individuals who have tested positive for...

The New York Racing Association is inviting fans to celebrate the 2020 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course remotely with an assortment of virtual events and downloadable content. For the 40-day meet that runs from July 16 through Sept. 7, fans can access the "Your Summer Place" experience via the NYRA Events page. Posters, tip sheets, recipes and more will be added throughout the meet to help fans stay close to the racing action from the comfort of their own homes. "Your Summer Place" will provide an immersive, at-home...

Belmont Park's abbreviated Spring/Summer Meet generated $15,466,198 in average daily handle from all sources, a 42% increase over the 2019 spring/summer meet. Held over 25 days and without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the live meet marked the return of professional sports to the New York area and was conducted with strict health and safety protocols in place. "We would like to thank the horseplayers for their enthusiastic support of New York racing during this most unusual spring/ summer meet," said NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke. "That we...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. and the city of Saratoga Springs today unveiled a limited edition set of Saratoga Race Course-branded face masks as part of a joint initiative to raise funds for two local non-profit organizations: Franklin Community Center and Shelters of Saratoga. The Saratoga reusable cloth face masks come in a variety pack featuring three individual designs and which include a white border and stretchable elastic ear straps with an interior pocket for a replaceable filter. The three-pack is available for preorder for $24.95 at Shop.NYRA.com. A...

Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law (Constitution) breezed a half-mile Sunday at Belmont Park in his final work ahead of next Saturday's GI Belmont S. Jockey Manny Franco was aboard the bay colt who, working solo from the half-mile pole, breezed through splits of :26.50, :50.42 (41/46) and out in 1:03.12. "He went well. We weren't looking for anything special today," said trainer Barclay Tagg, who ponied Tiz the Law to and from the work. Franco added, "When Barclay turned me loose, he got strong a little bit, but when we...