nyra | Horse Racing Free Tips

America’s Day at the Race Returns Saturday

America’s Day at the Races returns Saturday in what will be the first of 22 days of the telecast to air throughout January, February and March on FOX Sports. It will air on FS1 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will feature live racing from Fair Grounds, including the GIII Lecomte S. and Silverbulletday S.

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

The post America’s Day at the Race Returns Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

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.

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.

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

The post America’s Day At The Races Returns Jan. 16, Set For 22 Days Of Programming Through March appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

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.

The post Renovations Ahead For Oklahoma Training Track, Patron Area At Saratoga appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Overtook, Hello Hot Rod Faced With Possible Showdown In Grade 3 Withers Next Month

Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's royally bred maiden winner Overtook is on target for the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers on Feb. 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

The nine furlong event over the Big A main track is the next local prep on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and offers the the top-four finishers points based off a 10-4-2-1 scale.

Third time was the charm for Overtook, who graduated on December going a one-turn mile at the Big A for trainer Todd Pletcher – a three-time winner of the Withers. The son of Curlin came from 10 lengths off the pace with a six wide move nearing the three sixteenths and drew off a two-length winner under jockey Eric Cancel, while garnering a 70 Beyer Speed Figure.

Since his maiden score, Overtook breezed once over the Belmont Park training track, competing a half-mile work in 48.70 seconds on Jan. 3.

“He's come out of his maiden win in good shape and he's been training well,” said Pletcher's assistant trainer Byron Hughes. “I think he's earned a chance in that race at this point in his career.”

Bred in Kentucky by Hill 'N' Dale Equine Holdings and Phillip Steinberg, Overtook is out of the G1-winning A.P. Indy broodmare Got Lucky, who also was conditioned by Pletcher. He was purchased by his owners for $1 million at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

“He's bred for the two turns,” Hughes said. “She [Got Lucky] was a two-turn horse. She was a very classy filly and the further the better for her so we're hoping that he is the same way.”

Following a distant fourth on debut at Belmont Park, Overtook was third behind stablemate and subsequent graded stakes-placed Known Agenda going the Withers distance on Nov. 8 at Aqueduct.

BTR Racing and Dark Horse Racing's Hello Hot Rod has handled a stretch out in distance in each of his first three career starts and could continue that trend in his next outing in his stakes debut, trainer Brittany Russell said.

After winning at seven furlongs on Nov. 13 and capturing a one-turn mile on Dec. 13 at Laurel Park, Hello Hot Rod could also be a possibility to compete in the G3 Withers on Feb. 6 at the Big A.

The Mosler sophomore ran second by a neck to Doubleoseven in a six-furlong debut sprint on October 30 at Laurel. Russell kept Maryland-bred Hello Hot Rod at the same track for his next two starts, where he registered a maiden-breaking effort by 4 1/4 lengths before posting a 2 1/4-length victory over next-out winner Shackqueenking as the even-money favorite last month in an allowance optional claimer.

The 1 1/8-mile Withers would mark the first two turn race of Hello Hot Rod's career and would allow him the opportunity to compete in a Kentucky Derby prep race that offers 10-4-2-1 qualifying points to the top-four finishers. Russell also said the $100,000 Miracle Wood contested at one mile on Feb. 13 at Laurel remains a possibility as well.

“He seems like distance shouldn't be an issue forward,” Russell said. “We could wait for the Miracle Wood. We nominated around to give ourselves some options. They both are options. We're just going to get him back on a work schedule and see how he moves forward from there.”

The post Overtook, Hello Hot Rod Faced With Possible Showdown In Grade 3 Withers Next Month appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post