Saturday, December 06, 2008

NYRA 2009 STAKES SKED FEATURES PURSE BUMP TO 13 GRADE 1 RACES

The New York Racing Association, host to the greatest number of Grade 1 Thoroughbred races in North America, will raise the purses on 13 of them offered at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course in 2009. The hikes are part of the 2009 NYRA Stakes Schedule, which was approved by NYRA’s Board of Directors at its monthly meeting on Wednesday. It now awaits approval from the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.

The total value of the 2009 NYRA Stakes schedule for 177 stakes races is $34,765,000, of which $28,780,000 is for 113 graded stakes races (40 Grade 1 races, 41 Grade 2 races and 32 Grade 3 races). This includes $350,000 for three steeplechase races: the Grade 2, $100,000-added A.P. Smithwick and the Grade 1, $100,000 New York Turf Writers’ Cup at Saratoga, and the Grade 1, $150,000 Lonesome Glory during Belmont Park’s Fall Championship Meet.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

CURLIN “AWESOME” IN JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP WORK

Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin turned in an effortless five-furlong breeze Monday morning over the fast Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race Course, covering the distance in 1:01.80 under regular exercise rider Carlos Rosas.

Clockers caught Curlin, who worked in company inside stablemate Hawaii Calls, covering the first three furlongs in :37 4/5 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:14 4/5. The four-year-old son of Smart Strike, owned by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables, will have one more move before he attempts to break Cigar’s all-time money-winning record and become racing’s first $10 million horse in the 90th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational at Belmont Park on September 27.

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.

Friday, September 05, 2008

STRONG REBOUND AT SARATOGA AS 140TH MEETING CONCLUDES

Attendance and handle rebounded significantly during the second half of the 140th Saratoga Race Course meeting as three weeks of rain yielded to18 racing days of sunshine and pleasant temperatures, according to the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA). Declines in attendance and on-track handle over 2007 numbers through Week Three were cut in half as the meet wrapped up.

Attendance for the meeting was down 9.0 percent over 2007, a dramatic improvement from the decline of 18.9 percent posted through Week Three.

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

VINEYARD HAVEN GETS TRIP—AND THREE CHIMNEYS HOPEFUL

Jockey Alan Garcia had already ensured himself of at least a tie with John Velazquez for the Saratoga Race Course leading rider title earlier on the meet’s Closing Day card Monday afternoon.

So, when he went to post aboard Vineyard Haven in the 104th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 Three Chimneys Hopeful, Garcia just wanted a clean trip and to give his horse a fighting chance.

He did just that, and got more than a little help from Cribnote and Munnings to win the seven-furlong sprint for two-year-olds by two and a quarter lengths in 1:23.40 on the fast track. It was Garcia’s 39th winner of the 36-day meet.