Saturday, November 08 2008

SIX NEW YORK STALLION SERIES RACES SUNDAY AT BIG A

Three weeks ago, Belmont Park was the site of New York Showcase Day, with seven stakes races worth $1 million for state-bred horses. This Sunday will be a special day at Aqueduct Racetrack, a mini-showcase day featuring a half-dozen stakes races worth $500,000 restricted to horses sired by New York stallions.

There are many familiar names among the 51 horses entered in the six New York Stallion Series events, including the Richard Dutrow-trained Logic Way, a neck winner over Get Serious in the Mohawk Handicap on Showcase Day. With four victories and one second in six starts this year, Logic Way is one of 10 entered in the $75,000 Cormorant Division at 1 1/16th miles on the turf, which will be run as the seventh race on the day’s nine-race card. Also returning from the Mohawk are Get Serious and Classic Pack, who was fifth.

“WHEELS UP” LOOKS TO CLEAR GRADED STAKES HURDLE

When trainer Paul Douglas Fout saw Wheels Up At Noon in action at Delaware Park, he was immediately struck by the horse’s agility and balance. Naturally, being primarily a trainer of steeplechasers, Fout’s first thought was that the son of Outflanker would make a wonderful hurdler.

That’s exactly what Fout intended to do with the dark bay colt after he purchased him late last year for Eldon Farm, and gelded him. But things didn’t quite work out as Fout intended.

Thursday, November 06 2008

AQUEDUCT NOTES, Nov. 5, 2008

It may have been a routine 1 1/16th mile claimer on the turf, but Jackie Davis will always remember Wednesday’s fifth race at Aqueduct Racetrack for a very special reason – it marked her first-ever victory as a professional jockey.

The 21-year-old Davis, the daughter of retired rider Robbie Davis, entered the winner’s circle on her 33rd mount after piloting 64-1 shot Blue Hill Bay, owned by Chris Nolan and trained by Scott Everett, to a wire-to-wire, three-quarter length victory over Pay Wright.

Sunday, November 02 2008

DARK DAY SIMULCASTS BEGIN AT AQUEDUCT

Aqueduct Racetrack will offer the first of its dark day simulcast-only days on Monday and Tuesday, November 3 and 4. Fans will be able to bet at Aqueduct’s second-floor simulcast center, and mutuel clerks, self-service terminals and concession stand service will be available.

There is no charge for admission or general parking at Aqueduct for either live racing days – Wednesdays through Sundays -- or simulcast-only days. Parking and admission gates will open at 11:30 a.m., with the final simulcast race going off approximately 6:30 p.m.

BREAK WATER EDISON, LIVIN LOVIN TAKE JUVENILE STAKES

Eli Gindi’s Break Water Edison closed out his 2-year-old campaign with a flourish as he took the lead in midstretch and went on to a 1¾-length victory over favored Hello Broadway in the 33rd running of the Grade 3, $118,500 Nashua Stakes Sunday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Reunited with jockey Alan Garcia, who had been aboard for his first two starts, the son of Lemon Drop Kid stayed in the clear as the early fractions went in 22.96, 46.14 and 1:11.25, easily moving up when asked and hitting the wire in 1:35.86 for the mile over a fast track.

Saturday, November 01 2008

CRITICISM SETTLES DOWN AND DELIVERS IN LONG ISLAND ‘CAP

By Francis LaBelle Jr.

Throughout Saturday’s 52nd running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Long Island Handicap, Darley Stable’s Criticism looked like a horse in a hurry.

Inside early, she appeared almost too keen and she had to back out of trouble. She even found herself pinned down on the rail.

But when she finally got the room she needed in the lane, the 4-year-old, Great Britain-bred daughter of Machiavellian kicked clear to win the 1 ½-mile Aqueduct turf event by a length over J’Ray in 2:29.76.

Thursday, October 30 2008

AQUEDUCT NOTES, Wed. October 29, 2008

The first stakes offerings of Aqueduct’s Fall Meet will be this weekend.

On Saturday, fillies and mares will got a mile and a half on the turf in the 52nd running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Long Island Handicap.

Expected here are Haras du Mezeray’s Astrologie (FR) and Shake the Moon (GER), Darley Stables’ Criticism (GB), William L. Clifton Jr.’s Hostess, Lawrence Goichman’s J’Ray, Alain Falourd’s La Hernanda (IRE), Peter Harris’ Marzelline (IRE), Triple Diamond Stable’s Sentimental Union and Jane Schosberg’s Sunshine for Life.

Saturday, October 25 2008

SIMULCAST ACTION WILL BRIGHTEN AQUEDUCT DARK DAYS

Racing fans will be playing the horses at Aqueduct Racetrack seven days a week once the track opens for its fall meet on Wednesday, October 29, with live and simulcast racing featured Wednesdays through Sundays, and simulcast racing returning to the traditional “dark days” of Mondays and Tuesdays, starting on Monday, November 3.

During Aqueduct’s initial live racing days, fans will also get to play the simulcasts from such tracks as Churchill Downs, Calder, Hollywood Park, The Meadowlands, Woodbine, and Finger Lakes, with Gulfstream Park, Fair Grounds, Tampa Bay Downs and others joining the simulcast roster later on.

Thursday, October 23 2008

NEW YORK RACING CONTINUES AT AQUEDUCT

The New York Racing will not charge admission or parking at Aqueduct Racetrack when it opens its 39-day Fall Meet on Wednesday, October 29, making the Big A New York sports’ best bet.

First race post is 12:30 p.m.

As the holidays come closer, there is a festive mood at Aqueduct and plenty of action to keep fans entertained.

Saturday, September 13 2008

NYRA EMERGES FROM BANKRUPTCY

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced today that it has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and has filed Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of New York effectively creating the new New York Racing Association as of 12:00 Noon, Friday, September 12. The new NYRA was selected by the State to continue operating racing pursuant to State legislation enacted on February 13, 2008 which awarded NYRA a 25-year franchise to run Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park, and Aqueduct Racetrack, which NYRA has operated since 1955.

Thursday, August 21 2008

NYRA STATEMENT RE: TAKEOUT

NYRA STATEMENT ON POSTPONEMENT OF ONE-PERCENT TAKEOUT INCREASE ON OUT-OF-STATE THOROUGHBRED RACES

The New York State Legislature has amended the bill passed in June authorizing the state takeover of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation which would have required a one percent takeout increase on all bets made in New York on out-of-state Thoroughbred races.

The increase, set to become effective on September 15, was postponed until March 15, 2009 and inserted into the state budget cut bill passed by the legislature in a special session this week and signed by Governor David Paterson on Wednesday.

Friday, August 15 2008

NYRA BANS TOE GRABS

NYRA TO LIMIT HEIGHT OF TOE GRABS ON FRONT HORSESHOES AT START OF AQUEDUCT FALL MEETING, OCTOBER 29

Following the recommendation of the Thoroughbred Safety Committee of The Jockey Club, toe grabs with a height greater than two millimeters (.07874 inches) on front horseshoes will be banned from all horses racing at Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park, and Aqueduct Racetrack. The limitation takes effect on October 29 with the opening of the Aqueduct Fall Meeting, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced today.

The committee announced its recommendation to ban all toe grabs other than two-millimeter wear plates on June 17.