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Derby, Oaks Preps Highlight Saturday’s Broadcast Of America’s Day At The Races

Exciting live racing from Aqueduct Racetrack, Fair Grounds and Tampa Bay Downs will comprise Saturday's broadcast of America's Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports.

Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, America's Day at the Races will air from 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Eastern on FS2, including four graded stakes from Fair Grounds, highlighted by the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star for sophomores going 1 1/8 miles at the New Orleans-based track in Race 13 at 7:18 p.m. Eastern.

The Kentucky Derby prep race offers 50-20-10-5 qualifying points to the top-four finishers. Leading the charge is Grade 3 Lecomte-winner Midnight Bourbon for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Midnight Bourbon ran third in his only appearance in New York in the Grade 1 Champagne on Oct. 10 that closed out his juvenile campaign. He started his 3-year-old season with a one-length win going 1 1/16-mile in the Lecomte on Jan. 16 at Fair Grounds.

Proxy, the runner-up to Midnight Bourbon in that contest, will get the chance to turn the tables for trainer Michael Stidham, while Lecomte third-place finisher Mandaloun will also look to improve for trainer Brad Cox.

The Risen Star is the last of four consecutive graded stakes at Fair Grounds and five stakes overall, which starts with the Albert M. Stall Memorial for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf in Race 9 at 5:12 p.m.

The broadcast's graded stakes portion commences with the Grade 3, $200,000 Mineshaft for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles in Race 10 at 5:44 p.m. Maxfield, a perfect 4-for-4, will look to stay unbeaten for trainer Brendan Walsh after closing his sophomore year with a win in the Tenacious in December at Fair Grounds following victories in the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity and the Grade 3 Matt Winn.

Wells Bayou, who ran third in the Grade 3 Louisiana last month in his first start since running in the 2020 Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, will be seeking his first win in 11 months for Cox. Chess Chief, who ran off the board in the 2019 Grade 1 Runhappy Travers at Saratoga will also go for trainer Dallas Stewart.

Rounding out the undercard for Risen Star is the Grade 3, $150,000 Fair Grounds in Race 11 at 6:16 p.m. that will see 4-year-olds and up go 1 1/8 miles and feature a formidable duo by Cox in Factor This and Set Piece. Factor This has netted triple digit Beyer Speed Figures four times in his career, including a 110 for his win in the Grade 2 Dinner Party on Preakness Day, Oct. 3, at Pimlico. The English-bred Set Piece has won three of his five starts since arriving from Europe last year.

Race 12 at Fair Grounds showcases the Grade 2, $300,000 Rachel Alexandra for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles in a contest offering 50-20-10-5 qualifying points to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. Post time is 6:47 p.m.

Souper Sensational, a $725,000 purchase in 2019 and trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, will make her graded stakes debut and seeks her second stakes win overall after capturing the Glorious Song in October at Woodbine.

NYRA paddock analyst Maggie Wolfendale will be reporting live on-site from Fair Grounds.

Tampa Bay Downs will offer the $100,000 Pelican for 4-year-olds and up going six furlongs in Race 9 at 4:19 p.m. Cool Arrow, winner of the Grade 3 Smile Spirit in September at Gulfstream Park, will seek more stakes blacktype.

Aqueduct will host a nine-race card with a first post time of 1 p.m. America's Day at the Races will broadcast races 5-through-9.

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast on NYRA's YouTube channel which boasts more than 64,000 subscribers. Fans can subscribe to NYRA's channel and set a reminder to watch the show on YouTube Live. NYRA's YouTube channel also hosts a plethora of race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official online wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. 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 www.NYRABets.com.

For the current broadcast schedule and additional programming information, visit NYRA.com.

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America’s Day At The Races Returns Saturday On FOX Sports

America's Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, returns this weekend with live racing from Oaklawn Park and Aqueduct Racetrack.

Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, America's Day at the Races will broadcast 9.5 hours of weekend racing coverage and analysis on FS1 and FS2, including four stakes races from Aqueduct and Oaklawn.

Stakes action from Aqueduct this weekend includes Saturday's 128th running of the seven-furlong Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan for 4-year-olds and upward, while Sunday's Big A card offers the 37th renewal of the seven-furlong $100,000 Jimmy Winkfield for sophomores.

Oaklawn Park features a pair of stakes on Saturday, including the $150,000 American Beauty at six furlongs for older fillies and mares and the $200,000 Martha Washington, a one-mile test for sophomore fillies offering 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

(All times Eastern)
Saturday, Jan. 30
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (FS2)
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. (FS1)
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (FS2)

Sunday, Jan. 31
2:00 – 6:00 p.m. (FS2)

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast on NYRA's YouTube channel which boasts more than 63,000 subscribers. Fans can subscribe to NYRA's channel and set a reminder to watch the show on YouTube Live. NYRA's YouTube channel also hosts a plethora of race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

For the current broadcast schedule and additional programming information, visit NYRA.com.

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America’s Day At The Races Returns Jan. 16, Set For 22 Days Of Programming Through March

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced the return of America's Day at the Races on Saturday, January 16, in what will be the first of 22 days of the acclaimed national horse racing telecast to air throughout January, February and March on FOX Sports.

Produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, America's Day at the Races will return Saturday on FS1 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will feature live racing from Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, including two stakes, the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt and the $150,000 Silverbulletday for 3-year-old fillies at 1 mile, 70 yards on the dirt.

Both stakes also have implications for major races this May. The Lecomte is a Kentucky Derby qualifier, offering 10-4-2-1 points to the top-four finishers, while the Silverbulletday is a Kentucky Oaks qualifier, offering 10-4-2-1 points to the top-four finishers.

Racing fans and horseplayers can also look forward to five more telecasts of America's Day at the Races in January, along with 16 broadcasts scheduled for February and March.

Presented in 2021 by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, the telecasts will feature live racing from the Aqueduct winter meet as well as partner tracks, including Fair Grounds Race Course, Oaklawn Park, Tampa Bay Downs and others.

America's Day at the Races
January 2021
(All times Eastern)

Saturday, January 16: 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS1);
Friday, Jan. 22: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. (FS2);
Saturday, Jan. 23: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. (FS2);
Sunday, Jan. 24: 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. on FS2 & 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on FS1);
Saturday, Jan. 30: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. on FS2, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. on FS1 & 6 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on FS2); and,
Sunday, Jan. 31: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. (FS2)

America's Day at the Races
February 2021
(All times Eastern)

Saturday, Feb. 6: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (FS2);
Saturday, Feb. 13: 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (FS2);
Sunday, Feb. 14: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2);
Monday, Feb. 15 (Presidents' Day: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (FS2);
Saturday, Feb. 20: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2);
Sunday, Feb. 21: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2);
Saturday, Feb. 27: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2); and,
Sunday, Feb. 28: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2)

America's Day at the Races
March 2021
(All times Eastern)

Saturday, Mar. 6: 4:30p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2);
Sunday, Mar. 7: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2);
Saturday, Mar. 13: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2);
Sunday, Mar. 14: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (FS2);
Saturday, March 20; 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (FS2);
Sunday, March 21: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2);
Saturday, March 27: 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (FS2); and,
Sunday, March 28: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (FS2).

NYRA will announce the complete spring schedule for America's Day at the Races later in 2021.

NYRA and FOX Sports began their collaboration during the summer of 2016 with the launch of Saratoga Live airing on FS2. In November of 2018, NYRA and FOX Sports announced a new long-term television programming deal to make FOX Sports the year-round national television home for NYRA racing.

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast throughout the year on NYRA's YouTube channel, which boasts more than 63,000 subscribers. NYRA's YouTube channel hosts race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

The winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack continues through Sunday, March 21. For the current broadcast schedule and additional programming information, visit NYRA.com.

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NYRA’s Expanded TV Coverage Seen as Reason for Healthy Handle Numbers

Because of the coronavirus and the resulting cancellations, comparing 2020 handle numbers to 2019 numbers is an inexact science. But something clearly has gone right for NYRA this year. Entering December, the daily average all-sources handle number for NYRA races was $11,829,355, a 19.6% increase from this time last year when an average of $9,894,226 had been pushed through the windows.

For the year overall, NYRA’s all-sources handle is down 14.2%, a modest decrease when considering that the amount of races offered has dropped by 25.1%.

That the increase in daily average handle has coincided with a significant increase in the number of hours devoted to NYRA race coverage on the Fox Sports networks is probably not a coincidence.

“It would not be an overstatement to say we have no idea where we would have been without television this year,” said NYRA’s chief revenue officer and the president of NYRA Bets Tony Allevato. “Television played an important part in NYRA’s strategy long before I got here. They had always looked at the future as being television and distributing the content to a mass audience. But nobody could have foreseen (the pandemic) coming. Thank goodness we had in place what we had in place. Otherwise, I’m not sure what would have happened.”

NYRA first teamed with Fox Sports in 2016 when the network televised 80 hours of racing from Saratoga. The total hours Fox Sports devoted to racing continue to climb, with the network broadcasting 385 hours in 2019. Another major expansion was ushered in for 2020. A total of 775 hours of coverage will be shown. For much of the year, virtually every race run at the New York tracks could be seen on a Fox Sports network.

The show, America’s Day at the Races, will air for the final time in 2020 Saturday when the Aqueduct card is topped by the GI Cigar Mile The broadcasts are expected to resume in the spring of 2021.

“We were really able to get our programming out and in front of, in our opinion, a new audience,” Allevato said.

The 2020 Fox-NYRA agreement called for NYRA to pull its races off of TVG, a calculated risk considering how many people watch that network and make their wagers through its ADW platform.

“We did worry about that,” Allevato said. “TVG had been a great partner with the New York Racing Association for almost 20 years and, obviously, they do a lot to drive handle. We didn’t take that decision lightly. We just looked at the difference in the type of coverage we could get for New York racing on Fox and compared it to what we were getting on TVG and we thought this gave us the best opportunity to really push our content.”

It was not just the increase in the total number of hours. Last year, the extent of NYRA racing coverage on Fox Sports 1 was all of one hour, with the remaining coverage airing on Fox Sports 2. This year, Fox Sports 1 picked up 206 hours of NYRA coverage. According to Allevato, Fox Sports 1 is available in 80 million homes, while Fox Sports 2 is available in just 55 million homes.

“The viewership difference between the two channels is pretty big,” Allevato said. “We will see three to five times the viewership when we are on Fox Sports 1 versus Fox Sports 2. Our hardcore audience is still watching when we are FS2. but we are seeing that we are getting that causal sports fan to watch when we are on Fox Sports 1. There were days during the summer that our show on Fox Sports 1 drew more viewers than a major league baseball game on the same day. Right now, our ratings on Fox Sports 1 are comparable, or higher than, college basketball and major league soccer. That’s a pretty big accomplishment for horse racing, in my opinion.”

In an attempt to track whether or not the shows were creating new racing fans, NYRA offered Fox viewers incentives to sign up with the NYRA Bets ADW, including a free $20 bet when someone signed up for a new account. Allevato said that the number of people who made additional deposits and became at least semi-regular bettors after opening up an account to take advantage of the free offer exceeded expectations.

It wasn’t the hardcore player or the existing fan that already was betting a lot that we were getting,” he said. “We were getting new people. Those types of customers are how we can grow this sport.”

To acquire 800 hours of air time on a national network and to put together the shows is not inexpensive, especially when you consider that NYRA produced the shows. Allevato said that when it comes to “America’s Day at the Races,” NYRA looks at more than the bottom line.

“One of the great things about NYRA is that NYRA is a not-for-profit,” he said. “So, when you look at what the team is trying to do here it’s not a short play, it’s a long game for us., It’s really about making sure that horse racing in New York succeeds and we also believe that for horse racing to be successful in New York we need horse racing to be strong across the country. Sometimes some of the decisions we make short term probably don’t pencil. But we are not about the short term, we are all about the long term. While we have not lost money on the shows–and we owe a huge debt of gratitude to our sponsors, America’s Best Racing, Claiborne and Runhappy–it is certainly not a lucrative short-term proposition for us. It is something we do because we feel it is right thing for NYRA and right thing for the sport.”

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