Record-Breaking Season Returns Saratoga to Normal

If there's at least one certainty in Thoroughbred racing, it's the enduring charm and allure of Saratoga Race Course.

Not even a pandemic could change that.

If anything, the dreadful events of 2020 might have enhanced the Victorian track's popularity.

As sunset fell Sept. 6 on the closing day of the 40-day meet, images of last year-when COVID-19 protocols limited attendance to a small number of licensed owners-were a distant memory.

When "New York State of Mind" and "New York, New York" were played after Monday's final race, it brought the curtain down on a meet that proved to be yet another stellar chapter in a string of smashing success stories.

The track's all-time record handle of $705 million in 2019 was surpassed Sept. 1 and at meet's end the all-sources handle was more than $100 million above the previous mark, checking in at $815,508,063. That figure marked a 15.6% increase over the 2019 totals.

Adding to the glitter of those record-breaking numbers, 45 races have been taken off the turf due to wet conditions leading to a slew of scratches.

Attendance topped 1 million for the sixth consecutive year, taking 2020 out of the equation, with a final total of 1,046,478 that averaged out to 26,162 per day.

"Just being able to get the fans back in a familiar format, it was great," said New York Racing Association CEO and president Dave O'Rourke. "It brought us back to 2019. People came out strong at the beginning of the meet. It lightened up a bit as the (Delta variant) made people more cautious and it made us more cautious of the way we operated. Considering we didn't have the greatest weather this year, the numbers have been strong and people have had a good time. We're closing the meet out on a high note."

While the Saratoga brand continues to hold sway over fans, O'Rourke also credited something much newer than the 158-year-old racetrack as playing a huge role in setting a new standard for all-sources wagering.

"You have to attribute a lot of the handle numbers to the traction from the television side," O'Rourke said. "Hats off to FOX for doing this deal with us and sticking with us and even extending it. Right now we're really starting to see the returns on it. The wagering numbers are a good indication of the interaction we are having with fans. We've broadened our audience and that has put us in a good position to take advantage of the opportunities coming up."

During the 40 days at the Spa, all of the races were aired either on broadcast television or one of the FOX Sports cable networks.

On the individual side, the meet leaders were jockey Luis Saez (64 wins), who captured his first riding title at the meet, while the leading owner was Klaravich Stables (21 wins) and Chad Brown (41 wins) was the top trainer for the fourth time.

The 2021 meet also marked the debut of a few new viewing areas to complement the climate-controlled 1863 Club that opened in 2019.

Topping the list were the Spa Verandas and an extension of The Cutwater Stretch, both located at the end of the grandstand near the quarter pole.

"The Spa Verandas were a huge hit and the additional section of The Stretch filled up right away. There's a lot of demand for that type of offering," O'Rourke said. "We're going to work on the Tailgate at the Turn (on the clubhouse turn). That might be an area we experiment with and perhaps bring the Spa Verandas there as well."

Though COVID-19 had a significantly lesser impact on this meet as opposed to 2020, there were some NYRA personnel and horsemen who tested positive for the virus during the meet, most notably trainer Todd Pletcher and NYRA analyst and handicapper Andy Serling.

Overall, O'Rourke said there were only 12 NYRA employees who were diagnosed with the disease and 10 backstretch workers, though there were no backstretch cases when the meet ended.

"Thankfully no one got really sick," he said.

On a better note, a highly positive sign for the future was having newly installed New York Governor Kathy Hochul on hand for the Aug. 28 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) to present the winner's trophy. A couple of weeks earlier, Hochul had toured the racetrack.

"We were very thankful that the Governor took time out from what must be a very hectic schedule to show support for Saratoga and the racing industry by being here for the Travers," O'Rourke said. "I think that puts an exclamation point on how important we are up here for tourism. I think she's going to do a great job."

As Labor Day approaches, it will also mark the final Saratoga meet for Martin Panza in his role as senior vice president of racing operations. Panza will be stepping down at the end of the upcoming Belmont Park meet that starts Sept. 16.

"Overall we're very happy with the way things went. To do $800 million is pretty incredible. We're racing five days a week here and there are very few race meets that can do that. People should not lose sight of that. We're carding 10 races a day and 11 or 12 on the weekend. We're offering a lot of product. The rain made it difficult but the field size is up slightly," Panza said. "It's been wonderful to have experienced Saratoga and I'm honored to have played a part in getting it to $800 million. In my eight years, we probably set records in six of those years and I'm proud of the direction we took it and the quality of the racing we enjoyed. It's about trying to bring champions here."

Panza said he has yet to begin in earnest his search for a new job.

"I'll be back at Saratoga in some capacity, even if it's as a fan," he said. "I've been working for 35 years and I'm looking forward to a little downtime and doing some traveling."

O'Rouke said interviews have been held with potential replacements.

"We should have some answers for succession as we get into Belmont," O'Rourke said. "It's been a quiet search. It's a small pool of strong talent. It's a unique position, so were handling it internally."

Looking ahead, O'Rourke said 2022 should feature a revamped Post Bar next to the paddock at the Spa.

"The Post Bar needs to be re-done, so as part of that we have planned a two-tier deck and on the top there would be a viewing area for the paddock with a small enclosed area," he said.

As racing returns to Belmont Park, the finishing touches are being applied to the UBS Arena, which will serve as the new home for the NHL's New York Islanders and bring a multitude of new visitors to the complex.

"In the fall, as the arena opens up, we'll learn a lot about how people will interact with the property because a lot more people will be coming to it, which is great," O'Rourke said.

Meanwhile, NYRA is working toward finalizing plans that should lead to downstate racing being conducted only at Belmont Park. The initial stage of work at the Elmont, N.Y., track will consist of securing approvals to build a tunnel to the infield so that much-needed work on the racing surfaces can begin.

Eventually, if Aqueduct Racetrack is closed, to accommodate winter racing at Belmont Park a fourth surface will in all likelihood be needed. In doing so, it would give NYRA the opportunity to revamp the surfaces, perhaps even making a turf course the biggest oval with the dirt main track inside of it.

"This fall there's going to be a lot of dialogue about the surfaces. There's not a time crunch on the configurations. Obviously, there are two or three logical versions, but we have time because regardless of what we do, we need irrigation and pond work," O'Rourke said. "But over the next 12 months, if not sooner, we would like to have a clear view of what the board would like us to do. It will involve some version of having turf, dirt and synthetic. There have been some starts and stops with synthetics, so if we re-do the surfaces we need to contemplate not only what we need from day one to operate there in the winter, but also what we will need a decade from now. It's not going to be the easiest challenge but at some point this has to get done. We hope to have the whole thing done, which includes renovating the building, within five years, but we need to start with the surfaces."

At least during the upcoming dark days, NYRA Bets customers can wager on Kentucky Downs racing thanks to a last-minute agreement between the two sides that was announced about 24 hours before the all-turf meet began Sept. 5.

"The one thing we can never take out of racing is drama," O'Rourke said. "I wish Kentucky Downs the best on their meet and look forward to watching some really good racing while we take a week off."