NYRA Chairman Skorton Stepping Down
New York Racing Association chairman Dr. David Skorton announced Dec. 3 he is stepping down from the post to spend more time getting ready for his new job as head of the Smithsonian Institution.
Keyword: NYRA
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Plan Would Cut Six Aqueduct Race Dates
The New York Racing Association board of directors will be asked Dec. 3 to approve a 2015 budget that cuts the number of racing days at Aqueduct Racetrack by a total of six days during the track's winter and fall meets.
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Violette Wins Third Term as NYTHA President
In perhaps the most contentious election in the history of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, trainer Rick Violette Jr. was re-elected president despite a strong bid by owner Terry Finley.
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NYRA to Close Aqueduct Barns for Five Months
The New York Racing Association's projected $2.1 million surplus for 2015 will be driven by attempts to increase field size by possibly reducing the number of race dates and cutting expenses.
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Aqueduct to Offer Claiming Championships
NYRA announced Dec. 1 the stakes schedule for the 2015 winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, which will offer 23 stakes worth more than $3 million, as well as the inaugural running of the New York Claiming Championship Series.
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Winter Racing Focus of New York Hearing
Those who took the New York Assembly Racing Committee up on an offer to speak Nov. 18 had little to say about NYRA's future governance. Instead, winter racing at Aqueduct, and health and safety issues, were the focus.
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NYRA Officials Meet With Aqueduct Customers
In the first of a series of quarterly meetings, executives from the New York Racing Association took questions from customers in an hour-long question-and-answer session Nov. 15 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
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Lawmaker Expresses Concerns Over NYRA Plan
The New York Racing Association may be on a fast track to devise a plan removing it from state government control, but at least one veteran state lawmaker is in no rush to see the racing operator in charge of its destiny.
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NYRA Plan Won't Recommend Changes at Aqueduct
The agenda for the Nov. 12 meeting of the board of the New York Racing Association was short and sweet: to discuss a re-privatization plan for the organization due next spring to the office of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
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NYRA Board to Discuss Future of Franchise
The leaders of the New York Racing Association will start outlining a path for the racing giant's future at a board meeting Nov. 12, and it could be a precursor to talks at the state Capitol next year.
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NYRA to Administer Jockey Health Insurance
Facilitating new access to affordable health insurance coverage, the New York Racing Association Nov. 7 announced a formal agreement with the Jockeys' Guild which extends health care coverage to New York State jockeys.
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Genting Using Aqueduct to Tout Value to State
Genting Americas is using its casino anniversary at Aqueduct Racetrack Oct. 28 as part of a well-timed message to proclaim how valuable it has been to New York State government.
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NYRA Supports Proposed Medication Rules
The New York Racing Association Oct. 17 expressed its full support of the New York State Gaming Commission's proposed rules on threshold limits for therapeutic medications on race day.
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New NYRA Video Worth Checking Out
NYRA.com plans to roll out a preview of upgraded video options on its web site this weekend.
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New Double Wager Links Santa Anita, Belmont
Santa Anita Park and the New York Racing Association announced an all-new $2 wager called the "Belmont/Santa Anita Cross-Country Double," which will link Belmont Park's final race each day to a selected race at Santa Anita.
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Keeneland Secures Seventh Simulcast Award
Keeneland earned its seventh Simulcast Award for production excellence Sept. 30 at the International Simulcast Conference in Delray Beach, Fla.
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Simulcast Conference: HD Options Progressing
New York Racing Association director of television and interactive platforms Dan Silver said plans to offer racing fans their choice of unique perspectives could see NYRA surge past those sports in that area.
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Kay Outlines Recent Successes to NYRA Board
With an eye on the future, New York Racing Association president and chief executive officer Chris Kay extolled the successes of the present and the recent past at a meeting of NYRA's board of directors on Sept. 29.
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Oversight Board Reviews NYRA Finances
California Chrome may have lost the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), but the potential for a Triple Crown winner helped to drive up the New York Racing Association's overall pari-mutuel handle in the first half of 2014.
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Saratoga Attendance Spikes; Handle Declines
The New York Racing Association reported attendance spiked during the 40-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which also experienced a decline in wagering.
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Velazquez Receives Mike Venezia Award
Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez, a two-time Eclipse Award winner, was presented with the Mike Venezia Memorial Award Aug. 30 at Saratoga Race Course.
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Durkin Nears Finish Line of Brilliant Career
It's last call for Tom Durkin. The voice of horse racing on the New York circuit is silencing himself Sunday, Aug. 31, retiring after a 43-year career in which he also announced Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup races.
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Officials Examining Horse Deaths at Saratoga
New York officials said Aug. 29 they are conducting a probe into the relatively high number of equine deaths during the New York Racing Association's Saratoga Race Course meet.
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Saratoga Racing Secretary Gabriel Leaving
Dan Eidson has been named the New York Racing Association's interim racing secretary for the fall championship meet at Belmont Park, which begins Sept. 5.
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Durkin to be Honored at Saratoga This Weekend
The illustrious career of longtime track announcer Tom Durkin will be celebrated with two days in his honor at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, the New York Racing Association announced.
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Report: NYRA Bettors Overcharged $7.4 Million
A state investigative agency has concluded that key executives of the New York Racing Association were derelict in their duties to halt a practice that cost bettors more than $7 million.
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Jerkens, Lukas, Durkin Honored at Saratoga
Hall of Fame trainers H. Allen Jerkens and D. Wayne Lukas, along with legendary track announcer Tom Durkin, were honored Aug. 22 in the second annual "Red Jacket" ceremony in the winners' circle at Saratoga Race Course.
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Gulfstream Plans Lasix-Free Races in 2015
Gulfstream Park, which plans to become the racetrack prototype for integrity in the sport, is to to offer furosemide-free races for 2-year-olds in 2015 and eventually operate an on-track pharmacy to control medication.
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Collmus to Succeed Durkin as NYRA Race Caller
Larry Collmus, who took over the race calling duties at Churchill Downs earlier this year, is moving on to succeed Tom Durkin as the announcer for the New York Racing Association.
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NYRA Franchise, Winter Racing Discussed
The future structure of the New York Racing Association and the implications for year-round racing in the state were examined Aug. 12, the first day of the Saratoga Institute on Racing & Gaming Law in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
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Panza Suggests More Focus on Big Event Days
NYRA's Martin Panza said tracks need to focus on reducing race days or carded races in order to maintain quality for fans and bettors. He said the U.S. needs to build race days with national and international appeal.
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NYRA Board Awards Bonus, Raise to CEO Kay
A revamped racing program and enhancements to the customer experience were among the successes trumpeted by the NYRA board of directors Aug. 6, and in return president Christopher Kay received a bonus and a raise.
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NYRA to Study Belmont, Aqueduct Development
The head of the New York Racing Association is suggesting the racing giant might not be able keep open both its downstate Thoroughbred tracks when it morphs back into some form of private control in the fall of 2015.
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NYRA Reports Improved Handle at Belmont Meet
Thanks, in part, to a bump in wagering from a Triple Crown being on the line this year in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), the Belmont Park spring-summer meet saw improved total all-sources handle numbers compared with 2013.
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New York Horsemen Commit Money to Jockey Fund
Every horse that breaks from the starting gate in a race at a New York Racing Association track will generate a $1 donation to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund , it was announced July 24.
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TVG, NYRA Extend Multi-Year Agreement
TVG Network and the New York Racing Association announced July 15 a multi-year extension of their agreement for TVG to televise, stream, and accept wagers on live horse races from NYRA tracks.
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John Durso Named NYRA Communications Director
John Durso Jr. has been named director of communications and media relations for the New York Racing Association.
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Fan Group Critical of Belmont Day Experience
A state-created fan advisory group has blasted NYRA for operations June 7 for Belmont Stakes (gr. I) day, saying problems that hit everything from parking lot to betting lines to lack of security hurt fan development.
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Added Security for July 5 Stakes at Belmont
The New York State Gaming Commission and New York Racing Association have announced enhanced security protocols for horses running in the two grade I stakes on the July 5 Stars and Stripes card at Belmont Park.
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Fasig Fall Sale Adding N.Y.-Bred Yearlings
Fasig-Tipton will add another component to its Oct. 7 fall mixed sale at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., with an open session of New York-bred yearlings.
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Breeders' Cup: Churchill, NYRA Still Options
A three-year plan of upcoming Breeders' Cup sites does not include eight-time host Churchill Downs or the New York Racing Association, a five-time host; but Cup officials said the schedule should not be seen as a snub.
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NYRA Plans Capital Improvements for Saratoga
With customer experience a priority for upcoming meet at Saratoga Race Course, the New York Racing Association will invest $1.9 million in a series of capital improvements at the track.
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NYRA Steward Fines Trainer Maker $2,500
New York Racing Association steward Braulio Baeza Jr. has imposed a $2,500 fine on trainer Mike Maker in connection with General a Rod being a late arrival at the Belmont Stakes pre-race test barn June 7.
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Panza: No Rules Broken on Belmont Test Barn
An official with the New York Racing Association said no rules were apparently broken June 7 when General a Rod was a late arrival to the pre-race testing barn for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
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Belmont Mega-Day Shines Along With 'Chrome'
NYRA unveils the first in its mega-day strategy June 7 when it moves races like the Met Mile, Ogden Phipps, Acorn, and Brooklyn to Belmont Stakes day in an effort to ramp up interest, quality, and handle.
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NYRA Panel Discusses Integrity, Equine Safety
In a special two-part video released June 3, NYRA's Chris Kay and two industry experts discuss the steps being taken to enhance equine safety and ensure the integrity of racing in New York.
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Kay Hopes Upgrades Improve Belmont Experience
NYRA chief executive officer Chris Kay said the association has invested in many improvements designed to make the experience at Belmont Park for Belmont Stakes day more enjoyable for customers.
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NYRA Board Gets Optimistic Report From Kay
Optimism was evident May 28 as the board of directors of the New York Racing Association heard Chris Kay, president and CEO, detail several improvements customers can expect on what could be an historic Belmont Stakes day.
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NYRA Adds Two Executives to Management Team
The New York Racing Association has added two executives to its senior management team, naming Lynn LaRocca to the newly created position of chief experience officer and Joseph Lambert as its general counsel.
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Migliore Says Belmont Pitfalls Await Espinoza
Victor Espinoza has been a model of consistency aboard California Chrome, but Belmont Park presents unique challenges during the running of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), said NYRA analyst and retired rider Richard Migliore.
