New York Racing Association

Rainy Belmont Fall Meet Sees Handle and Attendance Declines
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Contact: Dan Silver

The 2009 Belmont Park Fall Championship Meet, permeated by inclement weather and races washed off the turf, saw declines in handle and attendance figures. The 2009 Meet ran 33 days, four fewer than the 2008 Meet, yet saw 81 percent more races taken off the turf (38 in 2009 compared to 21 in 2008). A total of 119 turf races were run at the 2009 Fall Meet compared to 143 in 2008. ... more

Dominguez, Pletcher, Bromans Win Belmont Park Titles
Sunday, October 25, 2009
By Jenny Kellner

Todd Pletcher Jockey Ramon Dominguez continued to dominate the competition in New York with his fifth straight riding title and trainer Todd Pletcher won his 20th individual training title as Belmont Park’s 33-day Fall Championship Meet concluded Sunday. Dominguez, New York’s leading rider, won two races on Sunday’s card to finish with 39 victories, five more than Rajiv Maragh. John Velazquez finished third with 32 winners ... more

Banrock Victorious in Mohawk
Sunday, October 25, 2009
By Ashley Herriman

Banrock With a dream trip over a soft turf course, Nyala Farm’s Banrock emerged victorious Sunday afternoon in the 31st running of the $150,000 Mohawk Stakes, the only major New York-bred turf stakes race for 3-year-olds and up the talented gelding had not previously won ... more

Haynesfield Wins Empire Classic; Dominguez Sweeps Final Four
Saturday, October 24, 2009
By NYRA Press Office

Haynesfield With darkness descending and the finish line lit by artificial light, Haynesfield held off the relentless charge of Ruffino by a desperate three-quarters of a length Saturday to win the 34th running of the $250,000 Empire Classic at Belmont Park. The dramatic victory gave Belmont’s leading jockey, Ramon Dominguez, a sweep of the final four stakes races on the New York Showcase Day card. He won the Sleepy Hollow aboard Fenway Faithful, the Iroquois on Rightly So, the Hudson on Driven by Success and finished off his own personal Pick 4 (worth $1,461 to his faithful backers) with Haynesfield ... more

New York Racing Continues at Aqueduct
Friday, October 23, 2009
Contact: NYRA Press Office

Aqueduct Racetrack, the only racetrack in New York City, opens for the 39-day Fall Meet on Wednesday, October 28. First race post is 12:30 p.m. and gates open at 11:00 a.m. unless otherwise indicated. Aqueduct boasts free admission and free general parking seven days a week. ... more

NYRA Live Chat with Andy Serling Tonight - 8pm EST
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
By Ashley Herriman

Andy Serling Beginning on Friday, October 23, The New York Racing Association, Inc., (NYRA) will host hour-long live, online chat sessions with key industry figures. Building on the success of Andy Serling’s Twitter website (Twitter.com/andyserling), the popular race analyst will host the first chat in the series this Friday. In the future, other individuals, from NYRA executives to New York trainers and jockeys, are expected to host sessions ... more

Operation Red Dawn Ends Drought in Knickerbocker
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
By John Scheinman

Operation Red Dawn In the week leading up to the Grade 3, $106,500 Knickerbocker, trainer Christophe Clement lamented that his ultra-consistent but hard-luck 7-year-old gelding Operation Red Dawn should win more races. On Thursday, in the 53rd running of the 1 1/8-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up ... more

NYRA Teams Again with Community for Elmont Cleanup Day
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
By Jenny Kellner

Local community groups, backstretch workers, church organizations and employees of The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will team up again on Saturday, October 31, in the second Elmont Cleanup Day. ... more

Belmont Runners Take on Track Records
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
By John Scheinman

Birdrun One track record was tied and another broken on a beautiful fall day of racing Wednesday at Belmont Park. In the first race, Repole Stable’s Super Shape took charge from the start and then shook off a challenge in the stretch from Todd Got Even to draw off by 2¾ lengths and equal the Belmont Park 6½-furlong main track record of 1:14.46 ... more

Belle Allure More Than Just Good Looking in Athenia Win
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
By Ashley Herriman

Belle Allure Proving that she’s got talent to match her looks, Belle Allure (IRE) gutted out her first U.S. stakes win Wednesday afternoon in the delayed 33rd running of the Grade 3, $106,500 Athenia Stakes going 1 1/16 miles over Belmont Park’s inner turf course ... more

BelmontStakes.com Selected as Finalist For AGA Communications Awards
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Contact: Dan Silver

BelmontStakes.com has been named a finalist in the Best Website category at the 2009 American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Communications Awards, scheduled to be held Tuesday, November 17 in Las Vegas. The website was launched this past May by The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and is dedicated to the prestigious third jewel of thoroughbred racing’s storied Triple Crown, which was run this year for the 141st time on Saturday, June 6 at Belmont Park. ... more

New York Showcase Day Highlights Best State Has to Offer
Sunday, October 18, 2009
By Ashley Herriman

In addition to all the top-quality state-bred thoroughbred action carded for Saturday, October 24 at Belmont Park, the very best of the Empire State from food to entertainment will also be highlighted on the New York Racing Association’s annual New York Showcase Day. ... more

Aqueduct Fall Handicapping Challenge Filling Up Fast
Thursday, October 15, 2009
By Brian Skirka

A limited number of spots are still available for the 2009 Aqueduct Fall Handicapping Challenge taking place Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15 in Aqueduct Racetrack’s Equestris Restaurant. Registration concludes Sunday, November 1, and interested players should contact Kathy Locke (718-659-2373 or klocke@nyrainc.com) ... more