Friday, May 09, 2008

NYRA, MID-ATLANTIC SIGN SIMULCASTING AGREEMENT

New York Racing Association simulcasts will return to 16 East Coast tracks, thanks to an agreement signed today between the NYRA and the Mid-Atlantic Cooperative.

The simulcast agreement will go into effective tomorrow, Friday, May 9, ending an impasse between NYRA and Mid-Atlantic that began with the opening of Belmont Park on April 30.

“NYRA is very pleased to have this agreement in place with such a major simulcast partner, “said Hal Handel, NYRA Executive Vice President and COO. ”We are glad to bring our races back to the fans at Mid-Atlantic tracks and I’m sure the fans will be happy to have NYRA races back, especially as we head into the heart of the New York racing season.”

Thursday, May 01, 2008

STATEMENT FROM SARATOGA FACILITIES MANAGER CHARLIE WHEELER:

At approximately 8:30 a.m. today, six carpenters were renovating Barn 50 at the Oklahoma training facility at Saratoga Race Course to install new barn walls. As is routine procedure, the workers were raising the roof of the barn utilizing standard barn jacks. As the roof was being raised to its intended height, the weight of the structure shifted, causing the roof to fall onto its side.

Five of the six carpenters suffered minor scrapes and cuts and were treated at the scene. A sixth worker was airlifted to Albany Medical Center with a broken arm.

No horses or trainers were near the structure at the time. No other barns were affected.

All of the workers are trained, professional carpenters employed by the New York Racing Association. This is the seventh such barn renovation project these workers have undertaken over the past year.

Standard protocol requires a minimum of five barn jacks to be used per stall when raising the roof of a barn. Eight jacks per stall were being utilized for this and other recent barn renovation projects at Saratoga Race Course.

The damaged barn is located in Horse Haven at the Oklahoma track. Trainer Gary Contessa had been assigned to the barn, which will be rebuilt in approximately six to eight weeks. The barn contained ten stalls and measures 120 feet by 25 feet.

Saratoga facilities staff called Saratoga Springs police and fire immediately after learning of the incident. Emergency personnel responded within minutes to the scene.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

CAMPO, BRACKEN NAMED VPs; THILL JOINS NYRA

The New York Racing Association, Inc. announced today that Paul J. Campo has been named Vice President and Director of Racing, effective immediately. Campo, known as “PJ,” has been racing secretary at all three NYRA tracks since July 2005. In his position as Director of Racing he will oversee a staff of 75 and be responsible for managing day-to-day racing operations, writing the condition book, and stall allocations.

Since joining NYRA in 1996, Campo has served as a clerk/racing official, Assistant Racing Secretary, and Racing Secretary/Handicapper. Campo, 33, who lives in Connecticut, is the son of the late trainer John Campo, Sr., who conditioned 1981 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Pleasant Colony, among other champions.