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Saratoga To Allow Vaccinated Fans At Near Full Capacity; Tickets Go On Sale June 9

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), in conjunction with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, today announced that Saratoga Race Course will re-open to fans at near full capacity for the 2021 summer meet.

Season and weekly ticket plans for the 2021 meet, which opens on Thursday, July 15 and continues through Monday, September 6, will go on sale on Wednesday, June 9 at 10 a.m. at NYRA.com. Season admission passes will also be available for purchase at that time.

In order to re-open Saratoga Race Course to fans at near full capacity, NYRA will designate most sections for vaccinated fans only, including the popular Saratoga backyard. This policy aligns with current New York State guidance for large outdoor sports and entertainment venues, which allows for fully vaccinated sections to operate at full capacity without social distancing measures in place.

“The historic Saratoga Race Course is one of the Capital Region's most storied attractions, drawing over a million New Yorkers and visitors to Saratoga Springs each summer,” Gov. Cuomo said. “The racing season is quickly approaching, and this year we are excited to welcome fans back to the course with free admission on Opening Day for any individual who shows proof of vaccination. This is all part of New York's rebirth and resurgence as we continue to build back better and stronger from this pandemic.”

As announced today by Gov. Cuomo, all fans who show proof of vaccination via the New York State Excelsior Pass on Opening Day, Thursday, July 15, will receive free Grandstand general admission. Fans from outside New York State may redeem free admission by showing their Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card.

“NYRA thanks Governor Cuomo for the opportunity to welcome fans back to Saratoga Race Course for what is sure to be an unforgettable summer at the Spa,” said NYRA President & CEO Dave O'Rourke. “Thanks to the progress made in New York against COVID-19, the 2021 summer meet will be a 40-day celebration of all that makes Saratoga so special. Beyond its importance to the thoroughbred racing community and legions of passionate fans, the annual summer meet is an economic engine that creates jobs and supports the hospitality and tourism economy throughout Upstate New York. We appreciate the opportunity to open the gates at this most historic of sporting venues on July 15, and to join our fans in a collective roar of 'They're off at Saratoga.'”

Season and weekly ticket plans for reserved seats in the Clubhouse, Grandstand, The Stretch and Fourstardave Sports Bar will go on sale on Wednesday, June 9, in addition to season admission passes.

Season passes, which are valid for vaccinated fans only, provide admission to all 40 days at Saratoga Race Course. Season passes do not include reserved seating and will be available by digital download only. Printed versions or hard copies will not be available. A Grandstand season pass is $50. A Clubhouse season pass is $75. Season passes may be purchased at NYRA.com beginning on June 9.

Individual tickets and tickets for other areas of Saratoga Race Course, including dining, will go on sale at a later date.

In addition to the historic and family-friendly backyard picnic area, sections that will be reserved exclusively for vaccinated fans and will operate at full capacity will include: the 1863 Club, The Stretch, Turf Terrace, Porch, Clubhouse and most of the stadium seats within the Grandstand.

Under New York State guidelines, non-vaccinated children under the age of 16 will be admitted to seating and hospitality areas designated for vaccinated fans when accompanied by a vaccinated adult.

A limited number of seating areas will be available for non-vaccinated fans, who will be required to observe social distancing guidelines and to wear a facial covering at all times during their day at Saratoga Race Course.

Single-day Grandstand general admission tickets are $7 and Clubhouse general admission tickets are $10. Walk-up admission will be available daily and does not include reserved seating. Upon entry, fans must submit proof of vaccination by presenting the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card or digitally through the New York State Excelsior Pass.

Individuals are considered fully vaccinated by the CDC/New York State 14 days or more after receiving the second dose in a two-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or 14 days or more after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson / Janssen).

NYRA encourages all fans who have been vaccinated in New York State to download the Excelsior Pass at https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/excelsior-pass.

NYRA reserves the right to amend admission protocols based on updates and adjustments by the CDC and New York State.

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 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 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 additional information, visit NYRA.com/Saratoga.

The post Saratoga To Allow Vaccinated Fans At Near Full Capacity; Tickets Go On Sale June 9 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘Strong Piece Of Work’: Rebel’s Romance Records Third Breeze In Eight Days For Belmont Stakes

Godolphin's Rebel's Romance gave his connections just what they were looking for in his final piece of serious preparation for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, with a sharp six-furlong work in 1:14.29 over the Belmont Park main track on Wednesday morning.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival runs from June 3 through Saturday, June 5, and is headlined by the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. The festival will encompass 17 total stakes, including eight Grade 1s on Belmont Stakes Day, capped by the “Test of the Champion” for 3-year-olds in the 1 1/2-mile final leg of the Triple Crown.

Under partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 70s, Rebel's Romance worked in company with stablemate Desert Peace, who is targeting the Grade 2, $300,000 True North on Friday, June 4.

The Charlie Appleby-trained pair took a walk through the paddock before heading out to the main track at 9:00 a.m. The two horses jogged clockwise in front of the grandstand and around the far turn before beginning their work down the backstretch.

Rebel's Romance, winner of the Group 2 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse last out, tracked to the outside of Desert Peace as clockers caught the duo through splits of 25.00, 36.80 and 1:00.58. Just past the quarter-pole, Rebel's Romance established a slight advantage over Desert Peace and was coaxed along approaching the wire, completing his move in 1:14.29 while Desert Peace finished up in 1:14.61.

Wednesday morning's workout was a third breeze in eight days for both horses. In their previous two works, Rebel's Romance was strategically placed right off Desert Peace, who would finish off ahead of his stable mate.

Sophie Chretien, travelling assistant for Appleby, said Wednesday morning's tactics were by design.

“The plan was to make him work a little bit harder and push to the line to really get that strong piece of work,” Chretien said. “I'm very happy with the horse. He's progressing very well. It's ten days before the race, so this was the big work for him, and he's going forward. They are moving well on the surface and they've been eating great.”

A son of Dubawi, Rebel's Romance is a four-time winner of five career starts with his lone defeat taking place when fourth in the Saudi Derby on February 29 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. The Irish homebred is out of the Street Cry mare Minidress.

Chretien expressed confidence in the horse's distance capabilities given his pedigree and his appearance.

“He's a big-framed horse and a big galloper, so distance will help him,” Chretien said.

Desert Peace, a son of Curlin out of the stakes-winning Flatter mare Stoweshoe – a full sister to Grade 1-winner Taris, will arrive at the True North off a victory at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

“I was very pleased with him; he's been very consistent. He's very focused,” Chretien said.

Chretien said she is hoping for a fast track next Saturday.

“I'm hoping we don't get too much rain,” Chretien said. “I've been looking at the forecast and we might get some rain through the weekend, but after that it should dry by the time we get to the Belmont. I'm not hoping for a sloppy track or anything like that.”

Appleby has conquered some of the largest races on a global scale owning three Breeders' Cup victories [Outstrip (2013 Juvenile Turf); Wuheida (2017 Filly and Mare Turf) and Line of Duty (2018 Juvenile Turf)], as well as an Epsom Derby with Masar and a Melbourne Cup win with Cross Counter, both in 2018. The British conditioner will be racing against history as he seeks his first American classic victory, as no foreign-based horse has won the Belmont Stakes since Go And Go conquered the 1990 'Test of the Champion' for Dermot Weld.

“It's something that's been in the back of his mind and I think Rebel is the horse that could bring it to us,” Chretien said. “Of course, it's great to have won big races all over the world, like the Melbourne Cup, and having much success in Europe and the Breeders' Cup here in the United States. To win a race like the Belmont would mean a lot.”

In addition to Rebel's Romance and Desert Peace, Appleby will also send out Althiqa and Summer Romance for the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Just a Game on June 5 going one mile for fillies and mares.

Althiqa, a gray or roan daughter of Dark Angel, has never finished off the board in nine lifetime starts and won the Group 2 Cape Verdi at the Just a Game distance before finishing third in the Group 2 Balanchine, both races were at Meydan Racecourse.

A winner of the Balanchine last out, Summer Romance bested her stable mate in the nine-furlong test, which she won by 2 ¼ lengths. Last July, the daughter of Kingman won the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth at Epsom.

Chretien said that both fillies will have their final work on Saturday morning during the designated time window for turf workers.

“They galloped on the grass the other day,” Chretien said. “They're training well and happy. They'll have another piece of work next Saturday and hopefully everything keeps going that way.”

The post ‘Strong Piece Of Work’: Rebel’s Romance Records Third Breeze In Eight Days For Belmont Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Registration Open For Belmont Stakes Handicapping Challenge

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced registration is now open for the two-day Belmont Stakes Challenge presented by Jackpocket slated for June 4-5.

NYRA Handicapping Challenge entrants will be able to register and compete online in all contests via NYRA Bets. The leaderboard for all of these contests will be posted on NYRABets.com and throughout the day on America's Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports.

In order to enter and play online, contestants must be registered NYRA Bets account holders. To learn more, visit www.NYRA.com/challenge.

Entrants for the two-day Belmont Stakes Challenge will compete for cash prizes through fourth place as well as one seat to the 2022 Belmont Stakes Challenge, four seats to the 2022 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC), and two seats to the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC).

The 2021 Belmont Stakes Challenge has an entry fee of $10,000, of which $2,500 will go directly to the prize pool, with the remaining $7,500 comprising each participants' bankroll. Eligible tournament races at Belmont Park will start on Friday, June 4, and end with the 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 5. Contest players can make win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, quinella and daily double wagers.

Online registration for the Belmont Stakes Challenge is available now at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/handicapping-challenge.

In addition, there are a number of upcoming Jackpocket Handicapping Challenges, a series of one-day high-stakes handicapping contests at NYRA tracks that require a $3,000 buy-in fee for each of the following marquee race days:

· The Stars & Stripes Challenge presented by Jackpocket on July 3 at Belmont
· The Whitney Challenge presented by Jackpocket on Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course
· The Jockey Club Gold Cup Challenge presented by Jackpocket on September 4 at Saratoga Race Course
· The Cigar Mile Challenge presented by Jackpocket on December 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack

Each Saturday throughout the racing season – with the exception of the NYRA Bets challenge series dates and November 6 – NYRA Bets will offer a $300 live-money handicapping challenge.

The unique NYRA Bets $300 live-money handicapping challenge ($200 live bankroll / $100 prize pool) offers cash prizes to the top seven finishers, while players that land eighth through tenth in the standings will receive an entry in next week's contest ($300 value).

Jackpocket is the official mobile lottery partner of The New York Racing Association, Inc. Fans can download the Jackpocket app and use code “PONIES” at checkout to receive a free lottery ticket.

New NYRA Bets members are currently eligible to receive a bet $200 get $200 bonus. NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of The New York Racing Association, Inc. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post Registration Open For Belmont Stakes Handicapping Challenge appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Charlatan To Get Time Off At Margaux Farm; Future Plans Uncertain

Trainer Bob Baffert's multiple Grade 1 winner Charlatan has been sidelined, reports the Daily Racing Form. The 4-year-old son of Speightstown did not exit his May 15 breeze at Churchill in good form, and has been sent to Margaux Farm in Midway, Ky.

“Charlatan wasn't 100 percent after his most recent breeze on May 15,” co-owner Sol Kumin told DRF. “Under veterinary advice he will get some time off and a decision on his racing career will be determined upon reevaluation late June.”

Charlatan had been aimed at the G1 Met Mile at Belmont Park on June 5, but the New York Racing Association temporarily suspended Baffert-trained runners due to the trainer's multiple positive tests over the past year, as well as the ongoing Medina Spirit/Kentucky Derby controversy.

Winner of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby (initially disqualified for a lidocaine positive, but restored as the winner by the racing commission last month) and G1 Malibu Stakes, Charlatan ran second to Mishriff in the $20 million Saudi Cup in his only start of 2021.