Carmen M. Barrera Horsemen’s Lounge Completed At Saratoga

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has announced the completion of the Carmen M. Barrera Horsemen's Lounge at Saratoga Race Course.

Formerly known as the Saratoga Room, the horsemen's lounge has been renovated and renamed to honor the memory of Carmen M. Barrera, NYRA's longtime director of horsemen's relations who died unexpectedly on August 8, 2019.

Barrera joined NYRA in 1978, the same year that her uncle Laz Barrera campaigned Affirmed to the Triple Crown, and was a valued employee and familiar presence at all NYRA tracks since that time. Her father, Luis, was a trainer as well, campaigning Summing to victory in the 1981 Belmont Stakes. And her cousin, Juan Dominguez is NYRA's racing facilities coordinator.

“NYRA and New York's racing community at large owe Carmen a debt of gratitude for her decades of service to our sport,” said Martin Panza, NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. “That she will now have a permanent place at Saratoga Race Course is a fitting honor for someone who cared so deeply for Saratoga.”

Located just off the Porch on the first floor of the clubhouse, the convenient drop-in facility offers assorted beverages and will be open to licensed owners and trainers.

The 40-day summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course will feature 76 stakes worth $21.5 million in total purses highlighted by the 152nd renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on August 28 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 7, as the anchors of two of the most prestigious racing days in North America.

Following the four-day Runhappy Opening Weekend from Thursday, July 15 through Sunday, July 18, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, with the exception of the final week, when the meet will conclude on Labor Day.

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

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Between The Hedges: When it Comes To Racing Festivals, Bigger Is Better

The following is the ninth edition of a bi-weekly series entitled Between The Hedges, discussing the business of betting with a focus on trending wagering topics and statistics. This week's column is penned by Joe Longo, NYRA General Manager of Content Services. Send your questions for Between The Hedges to betweenthehedges@nyrainc.com.

Belmont Stakes Day is the highest handling day on the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) racing calendar each season and that success has grown over the last several years.

Headlined by the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 5, this year's three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival kicks off on Thursday, June 3 and will include 17 stakes races in total with eight Grade 1 races to be contested on Belmont Stakes Day.

The big-day concept was launched at the 2014 Belmont Stakes, the first under NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza, by bundling together major stakes races to showcase the best our sport has to offer at a time when most eyes are watching.

The 2014 Belmont Stakes featured a Triple Crown attempt by California Chrome. Triple Crown attempts have a material impact on the amount wagered and partnered with the newly implemented multi-stakes concept, total commingled handle was $151,109,373 with $90,865,532 bet on the Belmont Stakes itself.

The 2015 Belmont Stakes, which featured American Pharoah's successful Triple Crown run, boasted handle of $135,790,321 with $81,681,147 wagered on the third jewel.

In 2018, when Justify became the 13th Triple Crown winner, handle was $137,954,903 with $79,730,023 wagered on the Belmont Stakes.

Excluding the 2020 Belmont Stakes, which was contested at nine furlongs as the first leg of the Triple Crown, handle averaged $98,416,407 with $50,230,988 bet on the race for non-Triple Crown years under the new race day configuration.

Under the former non big-day concept from 2009 through 2013, average handle on Belmont Stakes Day was $86,438,946 with $49,976,130 wagered on the “Test of the Champion.”

The inaugural Belmont Stakes Racing Festival was created in 2015, tying together three races days beginning on the Thursday of Belmont Stakes week and culminating on Belmont Stakes Day.

From 2015 through 2019, Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Thursday has averaged $9,079,847 with a high-water mark of $10,309,890 in 2017.

Compared to years 2009 through 2014, the same day averaged $6,608,287.

Over this same time frame, Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Friday has averaged $17,918,109 with a high of $20,839,703. From 2009 through 2014, the same day averaged $10,562,201.

So, what about the remainder of the big days on the NYRA racing calendar?

The top-five days by average daily handle over the last five years (2015-2019) are led by the Belmont Stakes Day ($113,798,889) followed by Travers Day ($49,470,410) Whitney Day ($30,340,281), Woodward Day ($28,050,290) and Jim Dandy Day ($27,481,055).

Stars & Stripes Day, another concept that began in 2014, has grown steadily since inception when its handle was $18,829,264. Stars & Stripes Day handle has grown steadily over the years reaching $25,766,176 in 2019. Stars & Stripes Day did not take place in 2020 due to restructuring of the stakes calendar caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Average daily handle (net of partial cancellations) has also increased steadily since the introduction of the big-day concept. In 2014, the average daily handle was $8,760,208. In the years 2015 through 2019, daily handle averaged $9,644,765 and a high of $9,906,155 in 2019. For 2020, average daily handle was $11,553,727 representing an increase of $2,793,519 or 32 percent since 2014.

Supporting these big race days along with daily overnight races are purse offerings that averaged $761,567 daily and $170 million annually over a period of five years predating 2020. The three days of the 2019 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival alone saw almost $11 million in purse money distributed.

The results reinforce the growth of the big-day concept and is further solidified by the increase in daily average handle over this time frame. By coupling marquee days with our broadcast television strategy and robust purse offerings, more eyes are on our content than ever before and horseplayers are supporting it on a daily basis.

For additional information and details on hospitality offerings, ticket packages and pricing, visit BelmontStakes.com. For full terms and conditions, visit https://www.belmontstakes.com/tickets.

For additional information on health and safety protocols in effect for the 2021 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, please visit: https://www.belmontstakes.com/tickets/know-before-you-go.

Send your questions for Between The Hedges to betweenthehedges@nyrainc.com.

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NYRA Announces New Partner For Concussion Management

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has announced a collaboration with the New York Institute of Technology's Center for Sports Medicine that establishes the CSM as the official concussion management team for NYRA.

The CSM will play a leading role in continuing to develop concussion protocols for jockeys at Belmont, Saratoga and Aqueduct.

“NYRA clearly prioritizes the health and safety of the world class athletes riding at their racetracks,” said Hallie Zwibel, D.O., medical director and director of the Center for Sports Medicine at New York Institute of Technology. “This collaboration is a reflection of that fact and will result in a concussion management plan that can serve as a national blueprint for thoroughbred racing.”

In December 2020, the Center for Sports Medicine launched a concussion baseline testing program for jockeys competing at the 2020-21 winter meet at Aqueduct. This program is ongoing, with additional baseline testing to be performed during the spring/summer meet at Belmont and the summer meet at Saratoga.

The Center for Sports Medicine has teamed in recent years with current and former jockeys, including Ramon Dominguez, who was force to retire in 2013 as the result.

“I am very encouraged that NYRA is collaborating with New York Institute of Technology to enhance jockey safety,” said Dominguez. “As awareness for concussion safety has risen, so has the level of protection for these amazing athletes and this collaboration continues those important efforts.”

“The Center for Sports Medicine is at the forefront of concussion science, research and prevention,” said Martin Panza, NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. “Dr. Zwibel and his team will be a tremendous addition as we work together to finalize comprehensive protocols to further protect jockeys in New York.”

The post NYRA Announces New Partner For Concussion Management appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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NYRA Establishing Concussion Protocols For Jockeys With Center For Sports Medicine

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the Center for Sports Medicine at New York Institute of Technology today announced a collaboration that establishes the Center for Sports Medicine as NYRA's official concussion management team.

Accordingly, the Center for Sports Medicine will take a leading role in the continued development of concussion protocols for jockeys at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.

In December 2020, the Center for Sports Medicine launched a concussion baseline testing program for jockeys competing at the 2020-21 winter meet at Aqueduct. This program is ongoing, with additional baseline testing to be performed during the spring/summer meet at Belmont and the summer meet at Saratoga.

“The Center for Sports Medicine is at the forefront of concussion science, research and prevention,” said Martin Panza, NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. “Dr. Zwibel and his team will be a tremendous addition as we work together to finalize comprehensive protocols to further protect jockeys in New York.”

In addition to baseline testing, which is central to informing future treatment and concussion assessment, the Center for Sports Medicine will provide expert resources in the diagnosis of potential concussions as well as treatment plans for jockeys seeking a safe return to the racetrack. Further, the Center for Sports Medicine will provide continuing education for jockeys and NYRA personnel to ensure a more thorough understanding of concussion prevention.

“NYRA clearly prioritizes the health and safety of the world class athletes riding at their racetracks,” said Hallie Zwibel, D.O., medical director and director of the Center for Sports Medicine at New York Institute of Technology. “This collaboration is a reflection of that fact and will result in a concussion management plan that can serve as a national blueprint for thoroughbred racing.”

The new collaboration underscores the Center for Sports Medicine's existing efforts to promote increased concussion safety. In recent years the Center for Sports Medicine has teamed with a number of current and former jockeys, including Ramón Dominguez, who was forced to retire in 2013 when he sustained head injuries during a race.

“I am very encouraged that NYRA is collaborating with New York Institute of Technology to enhance jockey safety,” said Dominguez. “As awareness for concussion safety has risen, so has the level of protection for these amazing athletes and this collaboration continues those important efforts.”

As a result of their work with current and former jockeys, the Center for Sports Medicine assisted The Jockeys Guild in the development of “return to ride” guidelines, which provide instruction on when injured jockeys can safely return to racing. Zwibel also serves as a medical consultant on a research project led by New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine assistant professor Milan Toma, Ph.D., which uses fluid dynamics to evaluate the safety of jockey helmets.

For additional information, visit NYRA.com.

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