NY Race Track Chaplaincy

The N.Y. Race Track Chaplaincy has begun soliciting aid for their annual back-to-school drive, whereby they help the children of the backstretch community obtain needed supplies for the upcoming school year. With the help of donations from the industry, the Chaplaincy provides backpacks filled with the specific supplies needed for hundreds of students of the backstretch workers at Belmont, Aqueduct, and Saratoga.   During the backpack distribution, they also provide free first-day-of-school haircuts, distribute free clothing, and even provide ice cream for everyone in order to provide a fun, relaxing,...

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy is seeking support for their Summer Enrichment Program for children of backstretch workers in order to help keep families together during the Saratoga season, and to give children an opportunity to experience something they may have never had before: a summer away from the city and from the track. No child is turned away from the program, which meets critical needs for the families that the Chaplaincy serves. The program is solely supported by contributions from the public. Those interested may click here to...

SUNY Empire State College and the NY Race Track Chaplaincy have reached an agreement that will allow the chaplaincy and the people that they serve, including he backstretch community, jockeys, and trainers, as well as family members who reside in their households, to participate in SUNY Empire's corporate and community partner benefits program. The agreement will provide eligible participants with a $50 orientation fee waiver and one-time $100 Better Together Scholarship. The partnership will also allow the two groups to identify areas of training that may be evaluated for college-level...

Champions Talk, a fundraiser for the NY Race Track Chaplaincy, is scheduled to be held July 19 at 3 p.m. at the Fasig-Tipton Pavilion in Saratoga Springs. The RSVP deadline has been extended to July 9. A limited number of seats are available for the round-table discussion featuring five champion jockeys--Chris McCarron, Jorge Velasquez, Richard Migliore, Laffite Pincay Jr. and Angel Cordero Jr. The event, which will be followed by a cocktail reception, will be moderated by Tom Durkin. Each attendee will receive a free limited edition autographed bobblehead of...

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy will recognize Irad Ortiz, Jr. for his work with the backstretch community during its 2021 summer fundraiser at Saratoga. Ortiz, winner of the Eclipse award in 2018-19 as the nation's leading jockey, is a Puerto Rican native who has won nearly 2,700 races and earned nearly $200 million to date. The NY Chaplaincy serves the state's backstretch community with children's enrichment, social services, recreational and educational programming, and non-denominational religious services. "Since his arrival on the New York Racing Association circuit, [Ortiz] has demonstrated...

Nick Caras, Programs Director of the NY Race Track Chaplaincy, Kim Weir, a Saratoga Volunteer Coordinator, and Mark Kehrer, Pastor of Revelation Church, have organized a small army of volunteers and sponsors from the Saratoga Springs community in recent weeks to improve housing conditions for backstretch families who have traveled to Saratoga for the duration of the meet. For years, many of the stable workers have stayed at rudimentary cabins at the Pine Grove Family Camp on Pine Road in Saratoga Springs. Caras always wanted them to have something better....