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Renovations Ahead For Oklahoma Training Track, Patron Area At Saratoga

The Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga could be getting a much-needed rework this year, according to reports presented by NYRA officials at a meeting of the Franchise Oversight Board on Monday. The board gave its approval to NYRA's budget for 2021 and anticipated maintenance projects, including the updating of the Oklahoma.

According to NYRA, the training track hasn't had significant work done on it since the 1960s. Investigation by the association after the close of training in 2020 found there were spots in the track's sand base that were inconsistent. The horsemen voiced approval for a plan to take up the entire track cushion and replace the base with a limestone material similar to that on the main track. The railing will also be replaced with a safety rail and the track will be widened 10 to 12 feet through the stretch and backstretch. Officials also hope to improve the pitch and elevations throughout the track surface. In one spot there's as much as a three foot difference between the 3/4 pole and 7/8 pole, which was put in to direct water drainage. One challenge to this process will likely be the pine trees that border the backstretch, as their proximity and root systems could make them barriers to the update process. The association is in touch with a landscape architect to determine the best resolution.

Saratoga could also see an upgrade to the popular Post Bar, next to the walking ring and the Shake Shack. The area, which is currently covered by a tent, could be replaced by a two-story structure with a permanent enclosed structure ideal for group sales. A deck on top of the structure would offer a unique view of the paddock, and NYRA officials said they're hopeful the removal of the tent could improve visibility/available space to some general admission patrons.

Monday's meeting also included a financial report from NYRA, highlighted by improved figures for its NYRA Bets platform in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The shift from in-person wagering to online only created an increase in activity for all ADW companies and NYRA CEO/president David O'Rourke estimated NYRA Bets is “about in the middle of the pack in terms of growth, which is good.”

O'Rourke guessed that about 60 percent of new wagering activity to the NYRA Bets platform was coming from existing customers who just didn't have an account before. The remainder however, he attributes to casual sports fans who had not previously spent much wagering on horse racing but began doing so while racing had extra coverage from FOX Sports and NBC in the spring and summer when other sports were halted. He also said those customers seem to have stuck around from summer to the Breeders' Cup, when other live sports had resumed.

For 2021, NYRA does not anticipate having fans on-site through at least spring and made its budgets based on a 25% attendance reduction for the Belmont Stakes and a 12% reduction at Saratoga to allow for social distancing.

Based on the increased activity from NYRA Bets, the association predicts an increase of $1.1 million in net income for 2021 over its 2019 net income. A reduction in operating expenses, both from not having fans on-site as well as corporate restructuring is the other factor in the predicted increase.

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NYRA, NYTHA, NYTB Launch Video Series

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has joined with the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA) and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) to highlight the economic impact created by Thoroughbred racing in New York. The first piece of this effort is a video released on Thursday.

“Thoroughbred racing in New York state is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact,” said NYRA’s Sr. Director of Communications, Patrick McKenna. “It is a sport that is deeply intertwined with our state’s history, and a source of entertainment for the more than one million fans who ordinarily attend the races at iconic venues like Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack.

“Beyond those numbers, the sport drives a broad industry that provides New Yorkers in every county of the state with economic opportunity. The men and women who form the backbone of the racing community–backstretch workers, security guards, union electricians and so many others–have built careers that sustain families and provide a path to a bright future for the next generation.

“[The videos] highlight just a few of these stories. We hope that you have the opportunity to watch the video and to share it with your friends and colleagues. Together, we are New York horse racing.”

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Hold The Salsa Seeks Start To Kentucky Derby Campaign In Jerome Stakes

Two-time stakes winner Hold the Salsa has already displayed superiority against his New York-bred counterparts during his juvenile campaign, but will seek a first triumph against open company when he takes on a field of four other newly turned 3-year-olds in Friday's 151st running of the $150,000 Jerome going one mile at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Inaugurated in 1866, the Jerome has been won by all-time greats Tom Fool (1952), Bold Ruler (1957), Kelso (1960) and Carry Back (1961). The Jerome is also a Kentucky Derby qualifier, offering 10-4-2-1 points to the top-four finishers.

Trained, owned and bred by Richard Lugovich, Hold the Salsa posted three wins in six starts in his 2-year-old year, including a last-out triumph in the seven-furlong NYSSS Great White Way on Dec. 6 at the Big A.

The Hold Me Back colt tracked the pace in mid-pack, came under urging approaching the quarter pole, and made a winning four-wide move in the stretch while fending off late challenger It's Gravy.

Two starts prior, the son of Hold Me Back won the Bertram F. Bongard on Oct. 2 at Belmont Park, also a seven-furling event, by 1 3/4 lengths. Hold the Salsa has been training forwardly at Lugovich's stables at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, breezing five furlongs over the all-weather training track in 1:01.40 on Dec. 23.

“He's been training super. I know he'll run well, it just depends on how well,” Lugovich said. “I want him to go a little farther and I think longer distances are going to suit him. He gallops beautifully every day. He's a very kind and nice horse.”

Boasting $237,775 in career earnings, Hold the Salsa was a 26-1 upset winner of his debut on July 12 at Belmont, defeating subsequent stakes winner Thin White Duke.

“It's always exciting to get good horses and I can tell he's getting better and better,” Lugovich said. “Even though he's quiet he's very good looking and a very handsome horse. Watching him gallop is when you can tell he's a nice horse. He always drops his head. That's good when you're coming to the finish line.”

Hold the Salsa will be ridden by Romero Ramsay Maragh, who piloted the horse to his maiden triumph, from post 3.

“He won on him the first time and I like him,” Lugovich said. “He also rode [upset maiden winner] Copper Chalice and he paid over $100 earlier in the Belmont meet. He was a first time starter as well.”

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez earned himself his first Kentucky Derby starter when New York-bred Vyjack won the 2013 Jerome and hopes that E.V. Racing Stable's Eagle Orb will take a similar path when breaking from post 4.

The son of Orb, who defeated Vyjack in the 2013 Kentucky Derby, will be stretching back out to a mile after capturing the six-furlong Notebook on November 14 at Aqueduct and registered a 74 Beyer. His prior effort in the Sleepy Hollow on Oct. 24 at Belmont Park was his lone start at one mile, where displayed frontrunning dimensions but was passed up nearing the sixteenth pole by Brooklyn Strong, who subsequently won the Grade 2 Remsen.

“The mile won't be a problem. The first time we ran at a mile he did well and now he has more seasoning into him,” Rodriguez said. “He's been very good. It's a step up for him and we're going to see what we got. We always can come back against New York-breds. Right now, it's the start of 3-year-old season so we have to see what he can do.”

Eagle Orb won his debut, besting eventual two-time stakes-placed It's Gravy going six furlongs on Aug. 21 at Saratoga. Bred in New York by Barry Ostrager, Eagle Orb is out of the stakes-placed Harlan's Holiday mare Lady On Holiday. Eagle Orb will be ridden by Manny Franco.

Trainer John Terranova will attempt a second victory in the Jerome when saddling maiden winner Original for owner Eric Fein. The son of Quality Road was a gate-to-wire winner last out in his second start when breaking his maiden over a yielding Aqueduct outer turf course by two lengths on Nov. 14.

Original was obtained for $425,000 from the 2020 OBS April Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and is out of the Empire Maker mare Unforgettable. Breaking from post 5, Original will be ridden by Jose Lezcano.

Ten Strike Racing and Kueber Racing's Swill cuts back to one turn following a fourth-place finish in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs for trainer Brad Cox. Third time was the charm for the son of Munnings, who broke his maiden by three lengths in September going seven furlongs over the Churchill Downs main track.

Swill will be piloted by Kendrick Carmouche from post 2.

Completing the field is Big Cherry Racing and Leonard Liberto's Capo Kane, who broke his maiden in wire-to-wire fashion on Nov. 25 at Parx Racing going a mile and 70 yards for trainer Harold Wyner. Capo Kane will break from the inside post under Dylan Davis.

The Jerome is slated as Race 8 on Aqueduct's nine-race program, which offers a first post of 12:20 p.m. Eastern.
NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. The

NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Empire 6 to Feature Daily Mandatory Payout in January

The New York Racing Association, Inc. announced the Empire 6 wager will offer a daily mandatory payout in the month of January beginning with Aqueduct’s New Year’s Day card, which is highlighted by the 151st renewal of the Jerome S., a one-turn mile for sophomores offering 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers. First post on Friday’s nine-race card is 12:20 p.m. EST, with the Empire 6 set to kick off in Race 4 (1:50 p.m.)

Featuring a $0.20 bet minimum and 20% takeout, the Empire 6 wager requires bettors to select the first-place finisher of the final six races of the card. The full pool, minus takeout, will be distributed to bettors who select the first-place finisher in the greatest number of races on the card.

“Our loyal community of horseplayers has continually expressed interest and support for wagers that reward the daily player with the opportunity for impressive payouts,” said Joe Longo, NYRA Director of Simulcasting. “This pilot program is designed to be responsive to those sentiments while helping NYRA to determine the future of the Empire 6.”

Aqueduct will offer 19 racing dates in January with live racing conducted Thursday through Sunday, with the addition of a special Monday card Jan. 18 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

The Empire 6 was launched in August 2019 with a jackpot provision in which the full pool would be paid out only to a single ticket selecting the first-place finisher in all six races, otherwise 75% of the day’s net pool would be distributed to those who selected the first-place finisher in the greatest number of races with the remainder added into a jackpot and carried to the next day’s Empire 6.

Thursday’s 2020 closing Big A card will feature mandatory payouts of the Empire 6, Early Pick 5 and Late Pick 5 wagers, in accordance with New York State Gaming Commission rules. The Empire 6, which has a jackpot of $183,471, begins in Race 3 at 1:46 p.m. Eastern. First post on Thursday’s eight-race card is 12:50 p.m.

For more information, visit www.NYRABets.com.

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