NYRA Seeks Modified Saratoga Meet

Long debated but handily rejected over the years, the New York Racing Association is now backing a longer meet—at least for 2019—during its annual Saratoga Race Course racing season.

The NYRA board's quiet approval of the idea Feb. 1, which still needs an OK from New York racing regulators, does not add any additional racing days, but extends the overall gathering by eight days by closing the track on both Mondays and Tuesdays, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The move, whispered about for months after NYRA failed to publicly settle on dates for the 2019 meet, will see the Saratoga session go from July 11 until Labor Day, Sept. 2. That holiday will be the sole Monday racing will run during the meet.

The 40 days of racing in 2018 ran from July 20 to Labor Day. Under past scheduling, this year's meet would have ordinarily started July 19.

NYRA officials would not publicly confirm the not-for-profit corporation's board acted on the longer Saratoga season Friday.

"We understand the urgency in announcing the dates for the 2019 Saratoga racing calendar. This matter is a complex issue that transcends NYRA and involves multiple partners. We anticipate that we will be in a position to announce the 2019 Saratoga dates within the near future. We appreciate the patience of our horsemen, fans, and the community,'' said NYRA spokesman Patrick McKenna.

Officials with the New York State Gaming Commission, which regulates Thoroughbred racing in the state, did not respond for comment Sunday. The NYSGC has to approve any change in the Saratoga racing season and, presumably, the idea needs to be run by the state Franchise Oversight Board, which is charged with monitoring NYRA's finances.

Joseph Appelbaum, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, declined to discuss the Saratoga calendar change until it receives final approval.

A source said the move is just being made—at least for now—for the 2019 Saratoga meet. Construction is set to begin later this year on land adjacent to Belmont Park for a new mixed-used facility that will include an arena, which will serve as the new home of the NHL's New York Islanders.