NYRA Discusses Saratoga, Backstretch Changes

On the heels of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and on the cusp of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet, the board of directors of the New York Racing Association met under the leadership of new board chair Michael Del Giudice for the first time June 24 in New York City.

Del Giudice assumed the chair earlier in June after newly-appointed chair Anthony Bonomo took a leave of absence. Bonomo's firm, Physicians' Reciprocal Insurers, is alleged to have provided a no-show job to the son of former New York State Senate majority leader Dean Skelos, who is currently fighting federal corruption charges.

A light agenda focused on the success of the Belmont Stakes, changes to Saratoga, and backstretch improvements.

NYRA president and chief executive officer Chris Kay pointed to improvements in food service, transportation, and entertainment, and the imposition of an attendance cap, as reasons for a more positive customer experience at the Belmont this year when American Pharoah swept the Triple Crown. In 2014 NYRA was the target of vociferous criticism for the way it handled the reported 102,000 people who came to see California Chrome's failed Triple Crown bid.

This year NYRA capped the number of tickets sold at 90,000. Public and social media comments indicated that customers had a far more positive experience this year than last.

Kay also detailed work completed and planned for upgrades to backstretch housing at Saratoga, Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack. A new 92-room dormitory is slated to open this fall at Belmont, with two more similar buildings planned for the next two years.

Renovation of Saratoga housing began last year, with more buildings slated for upgrades this year, while accommodations on the Aqueduct backstretch have undergone more modest renovations. The total cost of backstretch improvements at all three tracks is estimated at $28.8 million, according to Kay.

Board member Michael Dubb urged the board to expedite the construction. "There is nothing more important right now," he said, than upgrading the facilities for backstretch workers. "People on the backside deserve better."

Board member Stuart Janney III, who is also vice chairman of The Jockey Club, reported that he expects national medication legislation to be introduced in Congress within the next several weeks. Earlier in June New York Congressman Paul Tonko announced that he planned to introduce the Thoroughbred Horse Racing Anti-Doping Act of 2015 to establish national, uniform standards for medication.

The Jockey Club has been an advocate for such national legislation and for granting the United States Anti-Doping Agency authority over rule-making, testing, and enforcement of medication rules in horse racing.

Rick Violette, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, warned: "Be careful what you ask for when you get involved with the federal government," and then expressed disappointment that Janney had not acknowledged what Violette called "the tremendous gains" that had been made in medication reform over the last five years.

Kay also previewed this year's Saratoga meeting at a press conference for upstate media June 22 in Saratoga Springs. Kay characterized the Whitney Racing Festival Aug. 8 and Travers day Aug. 29 as two "must-see," "big-event" dates that are part of NYRA's strategy to improve its racing programs and attract new people to the racetrack.

John Hendrickson, a resident of Saratoga Springs and special adviser to the NYRA board, attended the meeting by telephone and offered one of the few voices of dissent during the session.

"Must-see days are great," he said, "but every day at Saratoga was a must-see day. I hope that we're not diluting the calendar."

Earlier in the week of June 21 Hendrickson was outspoken in his criticism of NYRA for abolishing the traditional Saratoga open house, held the Sunday before opening day for the last several decades.

In discussing the possibility of American Pharoah racing at Saratoga this summer, Violette said he thought the horsemen would be amenable to bumping the Travers Stakes (gr. I) purse from $1.25 million to $2 million in order to attract the Triple Crown winner, if NYRA would agree to allocate the first $750,000, the amount of the purse differential earned on Travers day, back to purses.

Del Giudice announced the addition of Thoroughbred owner and breeder Andrew Rosen to the board to fill the spot vacated by Charles Wait, who resigned earlier this year. The owner of Icon Project, winner of the 2009 Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I), Rosen is the founder of the clothing line Theory and a former CEO of Anne Klein.

Rosen's father, Carl, was also involved in both the fashion and racing industries, campaigning Chris Evert to wins in the 1974 Acorn, Mother Goose, and Coaching Club American Oaks (all gr. I), then known as the Triple Tiara, en route to champion 3-year-old filly honors.

One board seat is still vacant following the resignation of Barry Ostrager in the wake of his appointment to the Court of Claims by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who took control of NYRA in 2013. Until earlier in June Ostrager was also president of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, a position from which he also resigned.