NYRA Devising Strategy to Share

The head of the New York Racing Association said Aug. 23 the organization will attempt to create as many opportunities as possible for patrons to view Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who has been confirmed for the Aug. 29 Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.

At a press conference following the announcement that Zayat Stables' American Pharoah will run in the Travers, NYRA president and chief executive officer Chris Kay discussed additional security measures that will be in place. Earlier in August NYRA announced that Travers attendance would be limited to 50,000.

The organization said Aug. 14 that all tickets had been sold, and that no one would be admitted without a ticket.

Typically on Travers day, the gates open at 7 a.m. EDT. After patrons pay their admission fee, hundreds rush to secure a picnic table in Saratoga's expansive back yard. Kay said that other than requiring that all patrons have a ticket, those admission procedures will be unchanged this year.

"I am worried about the people that run," he said. "It creates a safety issue for them, and I hope that they won't do so."

Five additional gates will be added from which customers can exit, though they won't be in use when the gates open. Kay said he's confident in NYRA's security staff, and that he's not concerned about the possibility of ticket-scalping outside the gates on the day of the race.

"At the Belmont Stakes, we did have a StubHub office at the gates," he said. "We're in discussion to see if they'll do the same thing again."

Following an onslaught of customer service complaints at the 2014 Belmont, NYRA limited attendance for this year's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) to 90,000, with all tickets announced as sold the day before the event.

Kay is talking to the connections of American Pharoah, including trainer Bob Baffert, about the possibility of a dedicated training time the Thursday and Friday before the race so members of the public can see the horse train. Morning workouts are open to the public at Saratoga every racing day from 7-10 a.m., but the track has not customarily reserved or announced specific training times for particular horses.

"We know that there are a lot of fans who don't have tickets and would love to see American Pharoah," Kay said. "If there's a way for us to accommodate them, we will do so."

Additional security will be in place at the barn of John Terranova, where American Pharoah will be stabled, to limit access by both the public and media. The Saratoga backstretch is open only to those credentialed by NYRA or licensed by New York state.

"We will make sure that the media will have appropriate opportunities to ask questions while still maintaining the horse's safety and security," Kay said.

The draw for the 146th running of the Travers will take place the evening of Aug. 25 at Druthers, a restaurant in downtown Saratoga Springs. Neither Baffert nor Zayat will be in attendance, though Kay expects them to participate by telephone.

He didn't announce details of American Pharoah's expected arrival at Saratoga.

"We're thrilled that he's coming to Saratoga," Kay said. "I'll never forget the wall of sound that enveloped us at the Belmont Stakes, and it would be great to have that same kind of moment here again.

"For the fans in the Capital Region, here's a chance to see a Triple Crown winner in action. We're just thrilled that we'll have that opportunity."