NetJets and the New York Racing Association announced a marketing partnership for the 2008 Saratoga meet during a press conference in the Belmont Park press box June 6.
NetJets, the world’s leading private aviation company, is owned by Thoroughbred breeder and owner Richard Santulli. NetJets, which had been associated with the Breeders’ Cup as the sponsor of the Mile, will become the title sponsor of Saratoga’s King’s Bishop Stakes (gr.I). The King's Bishop will be run on the Travers (gr.I) undercard Aug. 23. Additionally, the winning owner of the King’s Bishop, a dirt sprint for 3-year-olds, will receive $50,000 of flight time from NetJets.
NetJets also will be a presence during the entire six-week Saratoga meet with signage posted near the finish line, which will be visible for every race run at the 36-day meet. The signs will be aptly named, “NetJets Flying to the Finish.”
The partnership between NetJets and NYRA was reached in conjunction with ABC Regional Sports Sales.
“We are thrilled to have this relationship in Saratoga. I think we are going to have a lot of fun with it,” said NYRA’s president and chief executive officer Charles Hayward in the press box. “I think the winner of the King’s Bishop is going to have a lot of fun with the $50,000.We are just thrilled and real appreciative of NetJets. We are really looking forward to this relationship.”
John Watkins, president of ABC National Television Sales, which is an arm of ABC Regional Sports Sales, said Saratoga is the perfect locale for NetJets to promote its company.
“As a world-class track in an internationally-known and historic resort area, Saratoga provides an ideal venue for NetJets to widen its advertising and sponsorship reach to new and ongoing customers,” Watkins said.
Santulli said the King's Bishop has "established itself as one of the most important fixtures for future stallions."
Saratoga’s race meeting runs from July 23 through Sept. 1.