NYTHA

The upcoming 48-day spring/summer meeting at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, will offer the richest overnight purse structure in the history of the New York Racing Association, the organization said Thursday. Open-company maiden allowance races will feature purse money of $90,000, while first-, second- and third-level allowance races will be worth $92,000, $94,000 and $96,000, respectively. New York maiden special weight races will carry prize money of $75,000, while horses bred in the Empire State will benefit from an $85,000 purse for non-winners of two/ $45,000 claiming and an...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has joined with the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) to highlight the economic impact created by Thoroughbred racing in New York. The first piece of this effort is a video released on Thursday. "Thoroughbred racing in New York state is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact," said NYRA's Sr. Director of Communications, Patrick McKenna. "It is a sport that is deeply intertwined with our state's history, and a...

The New York Jockey Injury Compensation Fund (NYJICF) continues its high-deductible workers' compensation insurance plan in 2021 enabling New York's horsemen to better control their costs. "The NYJICF is building upon the incredible progress the New York racing community has made on workers' compensation in the past three years", NYJICF and New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) President Joe Appelbaum said.     The NYJICF was able to secure a 15% premium reduction for 2020 to help offset the weeks of racing lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. Essentially, the program benefits remain...

TAKE2 announced the launch of the new TAKE2 Member Marketplace. TAKE2 Thoroughbred League Members can post horses or other equine-related items, including Thoroughbred Hunter or Jumper prospect, new or used saddles or bridles,  horse trailers or any other apparel, equipment or supplies, on the TAKE2 website (www.take2tbreds.com). The TAKE2 Member Marketplace will be open to the public, however, only League Members can post items for sale. For more information, email take2tbreds@gmail.com.

Congratulations to Dionne Johnson, one of three finalists in the Administration Award category of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), presented by Godolphin. Currently the business manager for New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), Johnson has been with the organization for 37 years. She is involved in multiple NYTHA committees, including the Scholarship Committee, which has donated over $1.6 million in scholarships to over 500 children of backside workers over the past decade. "She has quite literally been the backbone of [NYTHA] for more than a decade," said nominator Andy...

Congratulations to Maria Cristina Silva, winner of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA) Community Award, presented by Godolphin. Silva serves as the backstretch program coordinator for the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA). A native of Santiago, Chile, Silva first acted as an interpreter for the backside community at Belmont, but now also works to secure clothing, furniture, food, and more for backstretch workers and their families. She also puts together backpacks for children in need prior to school starting each fall. "No one has served the employees on the...

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 Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) announced the candidates Thursday for its 2020 President and Board of Directors. The NYTHA Board is comprised of five Owner Directors, five Trainer/Trainer-Owner Directors and the President. Candidates are as follows: PRESIDENT: - Joe Appelbaum (incumbent) - Chad Summers OWNER/DIRECTOR: - Tina Marie Bond - Daniel Collins - Peter Dorsman - Jonathan Green - Jeanne A. Liddy - Robert Masiello - Edward J. Messina, Ph. D. - Aron S. Yagoda TRAINER/TRAINER-OWNER/DIRECTOR: - Leah Gyarmati - Patrick J. Kelly - John Kimmel, V.M.D. -...

With its two annual fund-raising events in Saratoga Springs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New York Race Track Chaplaincy will instead host "Champions Talk," featuring five prominent personalities from the world of sports and horse racing, which will premiere Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. ET. The five individuals are Hall of Fame jockeys Angel Cordero, Jr. and Ramòn Dominguez, Kentucky Derby winning owner Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds, Churchill Downs' all-time leading trainer Dale Romans and Pro Football Hall of Fame and two-time Super Bowl winning...

While still awaiting word from Gov. Andrew Cuomo regarding when it can resume racing, NYRA has submitted a comprehensive plan to the state and the New York Gaming Commission outlining the steps it is taking to maintain a safe environment for those who must be on hand to conduct racing. The timetable for a resumption of racing at Belmont Park may also hinge on a region-by-region approach to opening the state announced by Cuomo Monday. The Governor's office has divided the state into 10 regions and said each one can...

Despite the world seemingly on hold, the TAA is moving forward, albeit with some improvisation given the circumstances, but forward nonetheless. Specifically, the accreditation process for 2020 is well underway and functioning as normal as the team is currently reviewing the submitted applications. Now more than ever, our 74 accredited organizations with their 160 facilities need support. We are striving to maintain regular contact with these aftercare soldiers on the ground and provide them with as much information and assistance as possible. Although informal surveys do not suggest a wave...

In this week's TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland, NYTHA president Joe Appelbaum joined the crew as the Green Group Guest of the Week to talk about when we can expect to see racing again in New York, the efforts to help Belmont backstretch workers, his personal betting strategies and much more. "The situation on the backstretch has improved considerably, not unlike the rest of the situation in New York City," Appelbaum said. "In Nassau County, we're functioning. We have close to 1,500 horses there. They're training six days a...