New York

Edited Press Release Albany, NY--We Are NY Horse Racing held its first Lobby Day Thursday to educate lawmakers about the importance of horse racing to the New York State economy. Dozens of stakeholders from a variety of organizations, non-profits, and labor unions joined together to educate lawmakers about a sport that drives an industry responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact. "The sport of horse racing has given me an opportunity to join an industry that truly supports me," said exercise rider Francisco Eduardo...

The progressive Rotknee (Runhappy) took his current winning streak to three, running out an easy winner of Sunday's Damon Runyon S. at the Big A. Drawn widest in a field of five, the homebred showed the best early speed and angled over to the fence in the opening furlong, forcing odds-on Best Idea (Honor Code) to be checked for half a stride. Going strongly on the engine beneath Manny Franco, Rotknee turned them in a couple of lengths to the good and kept on gamely to become the seventh stakes...

Officials at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) have released the stakes schedule for the Aqueduct spring meet Mar. 31 through Apr. 24, featuring 13 added-money events worth at least $2.7 million. The marquee day of the meet takes place Saturday, Apr. 9, highlighted by the $750,000 GII Wood Memorial S., a final prep for the GI Kentucky Derby that offers a total of 170 qualifying points (100-40-20-10) towards a start in the 'Run for the Roses.' Should a Grade I or Group 1 winner be declared an official starter...

The New York Racing Association has canceled Saturday's live racing program at Aqueduct due to dangerously low wind chill values set to impact the New York City metropolitan area. The training track at Belmont will also be closed Saturday, but the jogging barns will remain open. The current National Weather Service forecast, which aligns with NYRA's independent weather services, is calling for extremely cold temperatures and sustained winds creating wind chill values as low as -5. As a result, NYRA has canceled Saturday's card in the interest of the safety...

Suzie O'Cain, one of the most well-known and unique personalities in the Thoroughbred industry in New York and who managed the late Carl Lizza's Highcliff Farm in Delanson for 23 years alongside her husband Dr. C. Lynwood 'Doc' O'Cain, passed away Jan. 4 in Saratoga Springs following a battle with breast cancer. Born in Madison, Wisconsin and raised in Mississippi, Suzie O'Cain attended the state university in Oxford and later graduated with a Bachelor's degree in education from The Ohio State University. "We met in Louisiana and were married in...

The concept of the super trainer is by no means a new phenomenon in horse racing, but the huge stables run by super trainers have undoubtedly changed the landscape of the sport in many ways, from the backside to the racing entries. Are super trainers bad for the sport? Are there any benefits for an owner in using a "smaller" trainer? We asked these questions and more to a few trainers who may not be considered super trainers in terms of their stall numbers, but they have made the most...

Late young stallion Laoban's full-brother Son of Thunder (Uncle Mo--Chattertown, by Speightstown) is set to stand in New York at Waldorf Farm for 2022. He will be part of the Climax Stallions roster for a fee of $2,500 LFSN. "We are honored to have been able to purchase a full brother to such an incredible stallion whose life was cut much too short" said Sean Feld, President of Climax Stallions. "We will honor Laoban's legacy by offering a complementary breeding to anyone who bred, bought or is racing any progeny...

It had been an almost-unheard-of five years since trainer Chad Brown unsaddled the winner of Belmont's GII Hill Prince S., but Klaravich Stables' Public Sector (GB) (Kingman {GB}) put pay to that 'streak', racing within shouting distance of a surprisingly moderate tempo, then finishing with a telling late turn of speed to run his graded stakes winning skein to three Saturday afternoon on Long Island. A firming 33-10 chance after trading as high as 5-1 early in the wagering, the 170,000gns Tattersalls October yearling acquisition landed in third position and...

Several Breeders' Cup-bound horses breezed in New York Friday at both Belmont and Saratoga in preparation for the World Championships Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar. A few of those hailed from the Todd Pletcher barn, including GII Vosburgh S. hero Following Sea (Runhappy), who covered a half-mile in :49.73 on the Belmont training track. "I liked it," Pletcher said of the breeze. "It seemed like he bounced out of the Vosburgh very well. It was a very easy breeze for him this morning. We weren't looking to do a whole...

"We Are NY Horse Racing," a coalition of small businesses, unions, non-profits, and trade organizations designed to educate New Yorkers about the importance of horse racing to the state's economy, has launched and gained statewide support. According to a 2018 published study by the American Horse Council, horse racing in New York State is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact. The broader equine industry is New York's second-largest agribusiness and the sport of horse racing sustains hundreds of small businesses on and around...

Two months after costing New York an estimated $4.2 million in lost handle revenue during the first quarter of 2021, a bill to eliminate an antiquated state requirement that same-race mounts of married jockeys be coupled in pari-mutuel wagering has passed both the Assembly and Senate. The New York Senate unanimously passed Bill No. A7024 June 1 by a 63-0 margin. The Assembly had passed it 147-0 on May 5. The measure, if signed into law by the governor, would take effect immediately. It now charges racetrack operators with the...

Saratoga Race Course will re-open to fans at near full capacity for the 2021 summer meet, NYRA announced Thursday in conjunction with Governor Andrew Cuomo. Season and weekly ticket plans for the 2021 meet, which opens July 15 and continues through Sept. 6, will go on sale June 9 at 10 a.m. at NYRA.com. Season admission passes will also be available for purchase at that time. In order to re-open Saratoga Race Course to fans at near full capacity, NYRA will designate most sections for vaccinated fans only, including the...