NYRA Unveils New Pricing for 2002; Some Charges Lower, Most Higher

The New York Racing Association has unveiled a new pricing structure for its tracks in 2002.

After the new year begins with the popular Jan. 1 calendar giveaway for all paid admissions at Aqueduct, general parking and general admission at will be free from January 3 through March 10.

Reserved seat prices for the June 8 Belmont Stakes, formerly $5 and $10 for all seats, will be $5, $10, and $15 for grandstand seats, $15 and $25 for preferred grandstand seats, and $10, $15, and $25 for clubhouse seats under the new pricing schedule. General admission and clubhouse admission of $2 and $4 are unchanged.

"The Belmont Stakes is recognized as New York's biggest annual sporting event in the month of June," said NYRA President Terry Meyocks. "Reserved seat prices may have been increased, but still represent a terrific value when compared to similar events in horse racing and other major sports."

NYRA is also offering a seasonal seating package (preferred grandstand and clubhouse) for the 88-day Belmont meet at a cost $100.

For the 36-day Saratoga meet, scheduled for July 24 through Labor Day, NYRA has increased the grandstand admission from $2 to $3. Clubhouse admission has also increased, from $4 to $5, the same charge back in 1994.

Increases in the price of boxes at Saratoga range from $29.75 to $59.50 per day. The cost of Saratoga's clubhouse reserved seats increased from $6 to $8, while grandstand reserved seats will increase from $4 to $5. In announcing the increases, NYRA noted that these new prices are still lower than 1994 levels when grandstand seats were $6 and $7, and clubhouse seats were $8, $9 and $10. General parking will be free this year after NYRA drops the $2 charge, with trackside parking increasing from $5 to $7.

"We trust that our fans understand that we have worked extremely hard to keep the price of attending races in New York affordable," said Meyocks. "To that end, the elimination of a fee for general parking coupled with a continuation of our policy that children 12 and under are admitted free enables a family to attend Saratoga at no or little increase in price. We never like to raise prices, but even with the increases we are generally at or below 1994 levels. These increases are neither exorbitant nor unfair for racing's greatest show, Saratoga Race Course."