Belmont fall meet | Horse Racing Free Tips

NYRA Announces Purse Increases Starting Oct. 18

The New York Racing Association, Inc. announced several purse increases which will take effect beginning Oct. 18 and continuing through the remainder of the Belmont Park fall meet.

Among purse increases: open maiden special weights will increase from $63,000 to $80,000 and New York-bred maiden special weights will rise from $52,000 to $70,000. Additionally,

purses for $25,000 open claiming company will see a $4,000 increase to $50,000, while the $40,000 maiden-claiming condition will now offer a purse of $43,000. For the complete list, click here.

“The myriad impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic–including the suspension of live racing and the closure of casinos across New York–forced NYRA to make significant adjustments to the purse structure to ensure operational continuity throughout the spring, summer and early part of the fall,” said NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza. “NYRA made those strategic decisions early in the crisis so that we could restore our purses to near pre-pandemic levels as soon as possible to support New York’s horsemen and the 19,000 jobs connected to thoroughbred racing in New York.”

Panza continued, “Thanks to the incredibly strong wagering seen at Saratoga and into Belmont fall, coupled with the resumption of VLT revenues in early September, we are at this point even faster than expected. NYRA would like to thank Joe Appelbaum and the membership of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association for their hard work and collaboration in securing these increases.”

In addition to the purse increases, a retroactive purse payment for the first 16 days of the 27-day Belmont fall meet will be issued for 50% of the proposed purse increase. The retroactive adjustments are applicable to qualifying races starting on Sept. 18.

Following the Mar. 19 suspension of live racing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Belmont Park re-opened without spectators in attendance June 3 for an abbreviated 25-day spring/summer meet. Despite running 23 fewer days than in 2019, a 48% decrease, all sources handle during the spring/summer meet totaled $386,654,955. The spring/summer meet generated $15,466,198 in average daily handle from all sources, a 42% increase over the 2019 spring/summer meet.

All-sources handle for the 2020 Saratoga summer meet totaled $702,535,468 compared to $705,343,949 wagered from all sources on Saratoga in 2019.

For more additional information, please visit www.NYRA.com.

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NYRA Sets COVID-19 Jockey Protocols for Belmont Fall Meet; Out-Of-Town Riders Not Permitted

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) on Sunday announced COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys during the 27-day Belmont Park fall meet. The Elmont, N.Y., track will open on Friday, September 18, and run through Sunday, November 1.

The Belmont Park fall meet will be highlighted by 22 graded stakes, featuring seven Grade 1 events and seven Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” qualifiers to the two-day Breeders' Cup 2020 World Championships to be held November 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course.

In order to mitigate risk and reduce the spread of COVID-19, Belmont Park will be closed to out-of-town jockeys until further notice. However, members of the regular NYRA jockey colony who travel to ride at any other racetrack during the Belmont Park fall meet will be required to provide two negative COVID-19 tests taken within a 5-day window in order to return to ride at Belmont. Jockeys traveling out of state who have completed the required testing will then be physically isolated in the jockey quarters for three additional calendar days.

For example, if a NYRA jockey travels out of New York to compete on a Saturday then that jockey should be tested upon return to New York on Sunday and tested again on Thursday. Should both tests be returned negative then the jockey will be allowed to ride races at Belmont beginning Friday and will be provided an isolated area on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

NYRA jockeys who have traveled outside of New York state to compete at other racetracks beginning the week of August 31 will also be required to provide two negative COVID-19 tests taken within the 5-day window preceding that jockey's first mount at Belmont Park.

Jockeys who have remained in New York and not competed at other tracks following the conclusion of the summer meet on September 7 will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within the 7-day window preceding that jockey's first mount at Belmont Park.

All testing must be performed in New York state.

Condition Book 1 for the fall meet currently lists 17 active jockeys and two apprentice riders who will be designated members of the NYRA jockey colony. Jockeys and agents interested in being included in the NYRA jockey colony may contact NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza for consideration by September 18.

In addition to race day safety protocols which include standard health screening and temperature checks, the jockey quarters at Belmont Park have been substantially altered to provide maximum social distancing and reduce density. All areas accessed by jockeys during the regular course of a race day are closed to outside personnel, including credentialed media, and are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day.

Jockeys are not permitted access to the barn area. In order to work a horse in the morning, the jockey must meet the horse in the paddock and may then proceed to the main track.

Jockey agents must produce a negative COVID-19 test in order to gain access to the barn area. Races will continue to be drawn via Zoom.

All valets must provide a negative COVID-19 test taken anytime after September 13 in order to access the jockey quarters on opening day, September 18. Valets working in in the jockey quarters are not permitted in the barn area.

The 2020 Belmont Park fall meet will begin on Friday, September 18 and run through Sunday, November 1. Following opening weekend at Belmont, live racing will be conducted Thursday through Sunday with the exception of Columbus Day weekend, when live racing will be offered on Monday, October 12 and will resume on Friday, October 16.

America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the Belmont Park fall meet with coverage to air on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

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NYRA Announces Jockey COVID-19 Protocols for Belmont Fall Meet

The New York Racing Association announced Sunday its COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys during the 27-day Belmont Park fall meet, which will open Friday, Sept. 18 and run through Sunday, Nov. 1.

In order to mitigate risk and reduce the spread of COVID-19, Belmont Park will be closed to out-of-town jockeys until further notice. Members of the regular NYRA jockey colony who travel to ride at any other racetrack during the Belmont Park fall meet will be required to provide two negative COVID-19 tests taken within a five-day window in order to return to ride at Belmont. Jockeys traveling out of state who have completed the required testing will then be physically isolated in the jockey quarters for three additional calendar days.

For example, if a NYRA jockey travels out of New York to compete on a Saturday, then that jockey should be tested upon return to New York on Sunday and tested again on Thursday. Should both tests be returned negative then the jockey will be allowed to ride races at Belmont beginning Friday and will be provided an isolated area on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

NYRA jockeys who have traveled outside of New York state to compete at other racetracks beginning the week of Aug. 31 will also be required to provide two negative COVID-19 tests taken within the 5-day window preceding that jockey’s first mount at Belmont Park.

Jockeys who have remained in New York and not competed at other tracks following the conclusion of the Saratoga meet Sept. 7 will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within the 7-day window preceding that jockey’s first mount at Belmont Park.

All testing must be performed in New York state.

In addition to race-day safety protocols which include standard health screening and temperature checks, the jockey quarters at Belmont Park have been substantially altered to provide maximum social distancing and reduce density. All areas accessed by jockeys during the regular course of a race day are closed to outside personnel, including credentialed media, and are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day.

Jockeys are not permitted access to the barn area. In order to work a horse in the morning, the jockey must meet the horse in the paddock and may then proceed to the main track.

Jockey agents must produce a negative COVID-19 test in order to gain access to the barn area. Races will continue to be drawn via Zoom.

All valets must provide a negative COVID-19 test taken anytime after Sept. 13 in order to access the jockey quarters on opening day, Sept. 18. Valets working in the jockey quarters are not permitted in the barn area.

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Stakes Schedule Set for Belmont Park Fall Meet

The New York Racing Association, Inc. has announced race dates for the 27-day Belmont fall meet, including 38 stakes worth $5.58 million in purse money, that will kick off Friday, Sept. 18 and run through Sunday, Nov. 1.

Following opening weekend at Belmont, live racing will be conducted Thursday through Sunday with the exception of Columbus Day weekend, when live racing will be offered Monday, Oct. 12 and return Friday, Oct. 16.

The Belmont Park fall meet has traditionally opened on the Friday following Labor Day. Due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NYRA adjusted the fall schedule by adding a one-week break following the conclusion of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course.

“This new fall schedule is the result of a collaborative effort between NYRA, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders to modify our racing calendar in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the industry,” said NYRA President and CEO Dave O’Rourke. “I’d like to thank the horsemen and breeders for their common-sense approach to solving the challenges brought about by this unprecedented public health crisis.”

The fall meet at Belmont Park will be highlighted by 22 graded stakes, featuring seven Grade I events and seven Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifiers to the two-day Breeders’ Cup 2020 World Championships to be held Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course.

The first of the meet’s Grade I events begins with the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational, the second leg of the Turf Triple series for 3-year-old fillies Saturday, Sept. 19.

Five graded races will highlight the Saturday, Oct. 3 card, led by the GI Belmont Derby Invitational, second leg of the Turf Triple series for males, which offers a berth to the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Columbus Day Weekend beginning Saturday, Oct. 10 and ending Monday, Oct. 12, will feature nine graded events worth $1.65 million, including four Grade I Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” challenge races on Saturday led by the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, a “Win and You’re In” for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The Saturday, Oct. 10, card is bolstered by the GI Champagne, which provides a spot in the starting gate for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

The card also includes the GI Flower Bowl with a berth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on the line; the GI Frizette offering a berth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

New York state currently requires all racetracks to operate without spectators in attendance to combat the spread of COVID-19. NYRA will issue updated guidance regarding COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys, trainers and owners in the near future.

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