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Former Stable Employee Charged After 2-Year-Old Filly Suffers Fatal Injuries

The Daily Racing Form has reported that a former backstretch employee has been arrested and charged with burglary in the third degree and reckless endangerment of property after the death of a 2-year-old Frankel filly named Pasta (FR) at Belmont Park.

Ramzan Antooa, 38, was allegedly seen by security personnel as he let the horse out of her stall at Belmont, resulting in her getting loose on the road outside the barn and falling, suffering fatal injuries.

The New York Racing Association told Thoroughbred Daily News that Antooa had been licensed to work on the backstretch in New York and that his license had been in good standing. That license has since been summarily suspended pending a hearing.

Pasta had been in the barn of Christophe Clement, who told the Form he is working with Nassau County police on the incident and declined further comment.

Antooa was freed without bail after his arraignment last week. He is due back in court Sept. 21.

Filly’s Death at Belmont Leads to Arrest

According to a Newsday story, a 2-year-old filly let out of her stall Thursday at Belmont Park by a former employee resulted in a fall that led to the filly’s death. The former employee, identified by the Nassau County Police Department as Ramzan Antooa, 38, of Elmont, had been spotted at approximately 7:45 p.m. by Belmont’s security personnel releasing the filly. He was arrested at the scene and charged with burglary and reckless endangerment of property.

Newsday quoted New York’s Gaming Commission’s database as stating the horse “…ran loose and fell. Injuries sustained in fall subsequently necessitated euthanasia.”

Arraigned Friday at First District Court, Antooa was freed without bail. The case is due back in court Sept. 21. Antooa’s burglary charge is a felony, while the endangerment charge is a misdemeanor.

Patrick McKenna, New York Racing Association’s director of communications and media relations, told Newsday the deceased horse was a filly named Pasta (Fr) (Frankel {GB}). There was an unraced filly by that name who last worked three furlongs at Belmont July 26. The owner and trainer’s names were not immediately available, but the filly had gone through the Tattersalls October yearling sale last year as an 150,000gns RNA. She was bred by Al Asayl Bloodstock Ltd.

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NYRA Report 9.4% Increase In Handle On Saratoga’s Opening Weekend

The New York Racing Association announced on Sunday that all-sources handle for opening weekend of the 2020 Saratoga summer meet totaled $80,325,660, a 9.4 percent increase over last year's opening weekend, which generated $73,441,101 from all sources.

Saratoga's recently completed opening weekend, Thursday, July 16, through Sunday, July 19, corresponds with the four-day period in 2019 from Thursday, July 11, to Sunday, July 14.

Under New York State guidelines, Saratoga Race Course is currently operating without spectators in attendance.

Closing weekend at Belmont Park for the 2020 spring/summer meet generated all-sources handle of $41,452,573 from Thursday, July 9, through Sunday, July 12.

Wagering funds the majority of the NYRA purse account, which supports the racing ecosystem by sustaining horsemen and hundreds of small businesses across New York state. Thoroughbred racing in New York is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact to the state, including $240 million alone in the Capital Region during a traditional Saratoga meet.

Racing at Saratoga resumes Wednesday, July 22 with the first steeplechase of the meet at 12:50 p.m. Post time for the day's first Thoroughbred race is 1:21 p.m. Wednesday's card features the inaugural running of the Lubash for New York-breds on the turf.

Saratoga Live presents daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit NYRA.com/SaratogaLive. .

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course and the best way to bet every race of the 40-day summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 new member bonus in addition to a host of special weekly offers. The NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at NYRABets.com.

NYRA Bets Gift Cards are now available at more than 150 Stewart's Shops across the greater Capital Region, including Warren County. The gift cards, which are available in $50 denominations, can be used to deposit funds automatically into a NYRA Bets account for betting Saratoga Race Course online this summer.

NYRA Bets Gift Cards can be used to fund both active and new NYRA Bets accounts. Fans who open a new NYRA Bets account with a NYRA Bets Gift Card are eligible for a new member bonus. For a complete list of participating Stewart's Shops locations, visit StewartsShops.com/participating-nyra-shops/.

With the conclusion of opening weekend, racing at Saratoga will now be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays. Closing week will run Wednesday, September 2 through Labor Day, Monday, September 7.

For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com.

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Average Handle Increases at Belmont Spring/Summer Meet

Belmont Park’s abbreviated Spring/Summer Meet generated $15,466,198 in average daily handle from all sources, a 42% increase over the 2019 spring/summer meet. Held over 25 days and without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the live meet marked the return of professional sports to the New York area and was conducted with strict health and safety protocols in place.

“We would like to thank the horseplayers for their enthusiastic support of New York racing during this most unusual spring/ summer meet,” said NYRA President and CEO Dave O’Rourke. “That we were able to resume racing on June 3, and usher in the return of professional sports in New York, reflects the dedication and professionalism of the racing community during these uncertain and challenging times.”

All sources handle during this year’s spring/summer meet totaled $386,654,955. Average field size over the 248 races carded was 8.61.

The 2019 spring/summer meet, which was contested over 48 live race days, generated all-sources handle of $524,051,324 and average daily handle of $10,917,736. With 448 races run, the average field size was 6.98.

Racing shifts upstate for the 40-day Saratoga meeting which begins Thursday. Under current New York State guidelines, the track will open without spectators in attendance.

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