NY Thoroughbred Horseman's Association (NYTHA)

NYRA cuts purses for Big A meet By David Grening   ELMONT, N.Y. – After suffering double-digit percentage declines in handle at Saratoga and at the current Belmont meet, the New York Racing Association will cut purses by 10 percent for the Aqueduct meet which opens Oct. 29.   The cut means that purse levels […]

Funding is key to racing reforms By: PAUL POST , The Saratogian SARATOGA SPRINGS – People throughout thoroughbred racing are hailing proposed reforms as positive steps toward improving the sport’s safety and integrity.   The hard part will be paying for those reforms. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association unveiled on Wednesday a new Safety and […]

  NYRA counting on slots to fund major upgrades at tracks By PAUL POST , The Saratogian One of the challenges for NYRA is to boost attendance and betting at races at Belmont Park. (Photo provided) ELMONT – Armed with a new 25-year franchise agreement, New York Racing Association is prepared to wage war against […]

by Paul Post Aqueduct’s racino, which had been expected to open late next year, might not be operational until mid-2010, New York Racing Association President Charles Hayward said. Three entities have submitted bids for the contract to operate 4,500 video lottery terminals, but Governor David Paterson has yet to make an announcement despite indications that […]

  Photo: NYRA The New York Racing Association announced Sept. 24 the current composition of its 2008 board of directors. Ten of 11 governmental appointments to the board have been made and all 14 NYRA elected seats have been filled. Appointed by Governor Chester F. Broman, director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders’ Michael D. Hess, […]

by Paul Post  SARATOGA SPRINGS – Freed from a massive financial and legal ball-and-chain, New York Racing Association can get down to the business of improving its on- and off-track product. Officials have pledged a sweeping series of change from adoption of a steroids testing program to construction of modern backstretch dorms at Saratoga Race […]

  Company exits bankruptcy with closer relationship to state, and offers plans for future   by James M. Odato ALBANY — The New York Racing Association emerged from bankruptcy court Friday after completing a deal with the state and turning over the deeds to more than 900 acres of prime track real estate. Taxpayers now […]

By Tom Precious  The New York Racing Association, created more than 50 years ago to bolster the Thoroughbred industry, is taking on a new Sept. 12 with the formal approval by the state of a new 25-year franchise to exclusively operate Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga. The backing by the state comes with vows of […]

By James Odato  ALBANY — The state expects to take possession of deeds to Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct racetracks today, a momentous turn in the often stormy relationship with the New York Racing Association. The private corporation has controlled the vaunted thoroughbred properties since 1955. The deed turnover would happen following approval of the certificate […]

  Albany, NY (August 27, 2008) – At a press conference in Albany, State Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith today announced that the Labor Department has found widespread violations of minimum wage and overtime laws affecting Saratoga Race Course’s backstretch workers, including the “hot walkers,” grooms and watchmen employed by trainers at Saratoga. The affected […]

by Tom Precious  An effort is underway by racetracks and OTBs in New York state to derail a looming hike in the pari-mutuel takeout before it takes effect next month. The New York Racing Association, New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. and others say the takeout increase will not raise the intended revenues – about $7 […]

Superfecta modification not enough The New York State Racing and Wagering Board took one small step toward allowing New York to join the 21st century world of wagering this week when it granted Saratoga the right to offer superfecta wagering on any "qualifying" race instead of the previous limit of three per day. Now it’s […]