NYRA Dedicates New Backstretch Healthcare Clinic at Saratoga

The New York Racing Association, Inc. joined Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, philanthropist John Hendrickson and representatives from Saratoga Hospital, the Backstretch Employee Service Team and the New York Thoroughbred Horseman's Association for a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening of the new Saratoga Backstretch Clinic at historic Saratoga Race Course on Tuesday.

The Saratoga Backstretch Clinic will allow Saratoga Hospital and BEST to expand on the existing healthcare services offered to members of NYRA's backstretch community. Located just inside Gate 16, the backstretch clinic was constructed over the past year to replace a doublewide trailer that previously housed on-site healthcare services at Saratoga Race Course.

“The good that comes of projects like this one is incalculable, serving as a benchmark in our industry on how we take care of and provide amenities and access for the backstretch community,” said NYRA President and CEO David O'Rourke. “This clinic is going to be indispensable in what it does for the well-being of the community. This will allow Saratoga Hospital and BEST to take this (clinic) to a world-class level and it's incredible.”

Hendrickson funded the construction of the backstretch healthcare clinic as a tribute to his late wife, Marylou Whitney. Hendrickson said of the ground-breaking that “this is a really great day and I know Marylou is looking down and is extremely happy.”

“They say health care is the foundation of every community,” Hendrickson added. “This fantastic new facility will improve lives and save lives. The backstretch now has a state-of-the-art medical facility that they truly deserve. Marylou thought that Saratoga should be the summer place for everyone, especially for those who take care of our beloved thoroughbreds.”

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Horsemen’s Groups Partner To Provide Thoroughbred Trainers With Online Continuing Education Platform

The California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT), Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (MTHA) and New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) have teamed up to provide a Continuing Education platform for Thoroughbred trainers and assistant trainers. Horsemen U offers approved online CE webinars and issues CE certificates after a course and a short quiz have been completed. Trainers and assistant trainers can register, free of charge, and maintain their CE records in their account. The website for the platform is www.HorsemenU.com.

Continuing education has been adopted as one of the core Best Practices developed by the stakeholders involved in the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities. CE requirements have been implemented in California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, and West Virginia. Pennsylvania and Virginia are in the process of adopting CE regulations.

Dr. Scott Palmer, the Equine Medical Director for the New York State Gaming Commission, spearheaded the nation's first CE regulation, which was enacted in New York in December of 2016.

“There have been so many advances in the field of racehorse training in just the last five years,” Dr. Palmer said. “We have new technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of injuries, new developments in equine nutrition, and new regulations on everything from medication to immigration to wage and hour law every year. We want to be sure our horsemen can keep up with these changes, and use the knowledge gained to further their success, and the success of our industry as a whole.”

All licensed trainers and assistant trainers in the U.S. are eligible to register for a Horsemen U account. There are currently 12 webinars offered on the platform, on topics ranging from “Diagnostic Imaging of the Racehorse Fetlock” to “Equine Drug Testing” to “Equine Welfare, Horse Racing and the Social License to Operate.” The webinars have been hosted by the California Horse Racing Board, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation's Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit and the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

“California has been developing its CE program and rules for many years, thanks to the leadership of retiring Equine Medical Director Dr. Rick Arthur and our Racing Commission,” said Dr. Jeff Blea, who took the reins as the CHRB Equine Medical Director July 1. “Horsemen U was largely developed by Andy Belfiore. California Thoroughbred Trainers is indebted to her for her foresight and pleased to be a contributor to a platform that is not only convenient, but in many ways essential for professional trainers who are committed to always improving their standards of horsemanship and understanding of the increasingly complex regulatory and public environment in which we all live.”

Live webinars are part of the Horsemen U program, with Dr. Dionne Benson scheduled to give a presentation on “Compounded Medications: What Trainers Need to Know” on July 12. All live webinars are recorded and posted on the Horsemen U website.

“Schedules can't always be adjusted to make room for the live webinars, so it is important to have online options as well,” said MTHA President Tim Keefe. “Horsemen U also provides storage for the CE Certificates earned on the site, so the trainers have less paperwork to keep track of. We want to make the process of meeting the CE requirements for our horsemen as seamless as possible.”

The Mid-Atlantic stakeholders and regulators who have committed to the Strategic Plan include Delaware Park, DTHA, Delaware Racing Commission, Maryland Jockey Club, Maryland State Fair (Timonium), MTHA, Maryland Racing Commission, Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Monmouth Park, NJTHA, New Jersey Racing Commission, New Jersey Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Finger Lakes Racetrack, Finger Lakes HBPA, NYTHA, New York State Gaming Commission, New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., Penn National Gaming, Parx Racing, Presque Isle Downs, PTHA, Pennsylvania HBPA, Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, Colonial Downs, Virginia Racing Commission, Charles Town, Mountaineer Park, Charles Town HBPA, Mountaineer HBPA, West Virginia Racing Commission, and the National Steeplechase Association.

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Between The Hedges: Importance Of New York’s Breeding Program

The following is the latest 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.

The New York State breeding program plays a pivotal role in the racing calendar at New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) tracks throughout the year.

Highlighted by three state-bred stakes days during the Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course meets, state-bred restricted races represent more than 30 percent of the races run at NYRA tracks.

“The New York breeding program is critical to the success of racing at Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga,” said William Alempijevic, Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. “Combining the opportunity to race in restricted races with the success of New York-breds in open company and parlaying with the lucrative incentives, New York-breds offer a tremendous opportunity to our owner and trainer members alike.”

The state-bred stakes days have grown over the last several years. The Belmont spring/summer meet's Big Apple Showcase Day, which this year offered six restricted stakes worth $900,000 in total purse money, was first run on Memorial Day in 2015 and has maintained that spot on the racing calendar.

In 2015, the total handle on Big Apple Showcase Day was $10,923,487 and has since averaged $12,123,152, reaching a highwater mark of $14,181,204 in 2018.

The Saratoga summer meet's New York Showcase Day is offered on the Friday before Travers Week, and boasted handle of $16,440,423 in 2015. The lucrative state-bred card, to be held this year on August 27 at the Spa, will feature six stakes for state-breds worth a combined $1.15 million.

The popular New York Showcase Day at Saratoga has averaged handle of $18,397,837, reaching as high as $19,337,739 in 2018.

The Empire Showcase Day card at the Belmont fall meet has also enjoyed success, averaging $12,547,341 in handle dating back to 2015.

State-bred restricted offerings vary by meet. In 2020, 33 percent of the races run at Aqueduct Racetrack were state-bred restricted, while Belmont Park [32 percent] and Saratoga [28 percent] also offered a significant number of races restricted to horses bred in the Empire State.

In 2019, 35 percent of the races run at Aqueduct were state bred restricted, slightly higher than the state-bred offerings at Belmont [31 percent] and Saratoga [25 percent].

The purses tendered for these races reflect the importance of the state-bred program with over $28 million in purse money offered at NYRA tracks in 2020, representing 27 percent of the total purses for the year. In 2019, the total purses offered at NYRA tracks for New York-bred races exceeded $40 million, representing 24 percent of the total purses for the year.

From a handle perspective, over $630 million – or 34 percent of total handle – was wagered on state-bred races in 2020, while in 2019 almost $660 million – or 31 percent of total handle – was derived from state-bred races. The strong handle numbers are directly correlated to their participation with average field size of almost nine runners in the last several years.

New York-breds were competitive in open company last year as well, highlighted by Tiz the Law's victory in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets and the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers at Saratoga.

In 2020, 25 percent of the open-company races run at Aqueduct were won by New York-breds, followed by 15 percent at Belmont Park and 11 percent at Saratoga, amounting to winning 18 percent of the total open-company races run during the year. In 2019, the results were similar.

In addition to New York-bred restricted purse money, there are also breeder and stallion incentives offered within the state. Breeders awards are given to the owner of the mare at the time the mare foals in the state.

There are two tiers available for breeders awards based on purse money earned. The tiers are based on whether the horse is a New York-sired New York-bred by a registered New York stallion or a non-New York-sired New York-bred, sired by an out-of-state stallion or non-registered New York-stallion.

New York-sired first-place finishers receive an additional 30 percent bonus, with second and third-place finishers awarded an additional 15 percent capped at $40,000 per award.

For Non-New York-sired horses, first-place finishers receive an additional 15 percent, with second and third-place finishers awarded an additional 7.5 percent capped at $20,000 per award.

Stallion owners' awards are available for all races run in New York and are paid to owners of stallions registered in the state at the time of conception. The awards are 10 percent of purse money earned for first through third place by progeny of registered New York stallions capped at $10,000 per award.

In addition to the awards above, there is an additional open owner's award for all open-company races in New York with a minimum claiming price of $30,000. There are two tiers similar in structure to the breeders awards.

For New York sired horses, first through third place finishers receive an additional 20 percent of the purse money capped at $20,000 per award. For non-New York-sired horses, first through third place finishers receive an additional 10 percent of the purse money capped at $20,000 per award.

The various incentives, purse money offered, and opportunities to run highlight that is pays to be a New York-bred on the NYRA circuit.

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

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