New York Racing Association

NYRA 2009 Stakes Sked Features Purse Bump to 13 Grade 1 Races
Thursday, December 4, 2008
By NYRA Press Office

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 ... more

Vineyard Haven Gets Trip -- and Three Chimneys Hopeful
Monday, September 1, 2008
By Francis LaBelle Jr.

Vineyard Haven 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 ... more

Strong Rebound at Saratoga as 140th Meeting Concludes
Monday, September 1, 2008
Contact: John Lee

Attendance and handle rebounded significantly during the second half of the 140th Saratoga Race Course meeting as three weeks of rain yielded to 18 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 have been cut nearly in half as the meet wraps up ... more

Saratoga Meet Leader Reactions
Monday, September 1, 2008
By NYRA Press Office

Kenneth Ramsey LEADING OWNER KENNETH AND SARAH RAMSEY; KEN RAMSEY: “Saratoga is competitive. It’s like dreaming. A dream, to me, is a goal with a certain finish line. My dream was to win the owner’s title at Saratoga because I have never won it before." I got all of my trainers together and said, `Look, boys. Here’s the goal; here’s what we are going for.’ I’ve got four of the most promising and upcoming trainers ... more

Kimmel Wins Seven Consecutive Races at the Spa
Monday, September 1, 2008
By NYRA Press Office

John Kimmel When Premium Gold spurted away to victory in Monday afternoon’s third race at Saratoga Race Course, he handed trainer John Kimmel his seventh consecutive victory. Before the unprecedented streak began, Kimmel had saddled only one winner at Saratoga this season. That changed when Kimmel saddled three winners on Friday, August 29 and one each on Saturday, Sunday and two of the day’s first three winners on Monday’s card ... more

Hostess is the Mostest in Glens Falls 'Cap
Monday, September 1, 2008
By Francis LaBelle Jr.

Hostess Jockey Rajiv Maragh had a tough beat on William L. Clifton Jr.’s Hostess when he rode her for the first time on June 21. But Maragh gained knowledge and put it to good use Monday afternoon, as he patiently rated Hostess and then turned her loose in the lane to win the 13th running of the Grade 3, $108,900 Glens Falls Handicap by a neck over rallying Palmilla ... more

Mani Bhavan Behaves Beautifully in Spinaway
Sunday, August 31, 2008
By Francis LaBelle Jr.

Mani Bhavan Mani Bhavan, making her third career start and second start in 18 days, led at every call Sunday afternoon and held off Jardin for a one-length victory in the 117th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 Spinaway for two-year-old fillies at seven furlongs ... more

Saratoga Race Course Notes
Sunday, August 31, 2008
By NYRA Press Office

Curlin It was a mellow Sunday morning at trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn at Saratoga Race Course following champion Curlin’s 1 ¼-length victory over Past the Point in the 55th running of the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes on Saturday afternoon. Barbara Banke, wife of majority owner Jess Jackson, son Chris Jackson, and winning rider Robby Albarado all paid visits to the reigning Horse of the Year, who came back from the nine-furlong race “very well,” according to Asmussen ... more

Curlin Turns Ghostbuster in Woodward
Saturday, August 30, 2008
By Francis LaBelle Jr.

Curlin Graveyard of Champions? Not on this day. Fighting off tight quarters early and the ghosts of Saratoga Race Course that have mischievously messed up the plans of trainers and bettors alike throughout history, Stonestreet Stable’s defending Horse of the Year Curlin made his Spa debut a resounding success as he won Saturday’s 55th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward for three-year-olds and up at nine furlongs ... more

First Defence Takes Forego, as 'Luck' Runs Out
Saturday, August 30, 2008
By Francis LaBelle Jr.

First Defence Juddmonte Farm’s First Defence was winless in three career start at Saratoga Race Course coming into Saturday’s 29th running of the $250,000, seven-furlong Forego. A talented son of Unbridled’s Song, he finally became a graded stakes winner when he won the Grade 3 Jaipur on the turf at Belmont Park by a head ... more

Curlin: The Coolest Colt in Creation?
Thursday, August 28, 2008
By Jenny Kellner

Curlin He has been called everything from a “fire-breathing Pegasus” to the “next Big Red.” Long-bodied, with a powerfully muscled neck and a ground-gobbling stride, he is an imposing a presence on the racetrack as LeBron James is on the basketball court. Factor in a gleaming coppery-red coat, a chiseled head and a tail that nearly sweeps the ground, and you have a magnificent-looking thoroughbred that leaves pundits struggling for the right superlative and fans in awe ... more

Dark Equation Makes His Turn Count in NY Turf Writers Cup
Thursday, August 28, 2008
By Francis LaBelle Jr.

Dark Equation Beverly R. Steinman’s Dark Equation bounced back from a loss to his stablemate earlier this meet to take the 67th running of the Grade 1, $159,300 New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase Handicap by a half-length over Be Certain. Stablemate High Action, who defeated Dark Equation in the Grade 2 A.P. Smithwick Memorial here on August 7, finished third ... more

Woodward Tops Saratoga Grade 1 Grand Finale
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
By NYRA Press Office

With 54 runnings to date, the Woodward is a comparative newcomer to the NYRA stakes schedule, but the race quickly established itself as a key stop on the road to championship honors. Named in memory of racing industry leader, Belair Stud’s William Woodward, the race had been run at Belmont Park for most of its history ... more

Benny the Bull Retired with Ankle Chip
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
By NYRA Press Office

Benny the Bull Sprinter Benny the Bull, who would have been the favorite for Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Forego Handicap at Saratoga Race Course, has been retired because of an ankle injury, according to IEAH Stables’ Michael Sherack ... more

Big Week Five Boosts Spa Business
Monday, August 25, 2008
Contact: John Lee

Great weather and full fields during Week Five of the 140th Saratoga Race Course meeting produced increases in attendance and on-track handle over 2007, according to the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA). Attendance was up 3.3 percent and on-track handle increased 2.6 percent compared to the fifth week of the 2007 meeting, with all-sources handle down only slightly at 3.2 percent, in contrast to far greater decreases at other concurrent Thoroughbred meets nationwide ... more

When it Comes to Winning, Vision is ‘Relative’
Monday, August 25, 2008
By Catherine Toner

Relatively Ready It was the second race at Saratoga Race Course on August 20, and jockey Cornelio Velasquez was waiting for a hole to open up on the inside.When he couldn’t wait any longer, Velasquez decided to swing his mount ... more