Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Drive-Thru BBQ In Saratoga Set For Aug. 11

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), an equine retirement facility accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), will host a unique Drive-thru BBQ on August 11 at the Saratoga Winery.

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and its horsemen are committed supporters of the TAA, which accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding.

In order to comply with social distancing guidelines, the annual TRF BBQ at the Barn has been reimagined as a drive-thru experience at Saratoga Winery which will feature a drive around the grounds complete with miniature ponies, racing celebrities, and a special appearance by Joey, the TRF Herd Ambassador, who will be returning to Saratoga from the TRF Second Chances Program at Wallkill to see all his friends from last summer.

“In this summer unlike any other, the TRF is committed to keeping our mission and our horses in the minds of the racing community across New York, and across the country”, said Kim Weir, of the TRF. “With this creative and light-hearted approach to our summer BBQ we're hoping to expand awareness of our work within the Saratoga and Capital Region community, while also giving fans and horsemen unable to travel to the Spa this summer an opportunity to join us – at least in spirit, with their support.”

Friends of the TRF Herd across the country can participate in spirit by purchasing a bale of hay ($5) or a bag of grain ($15) for the horses, by making a gift of sponsorship (starting at $100), or purchasing raffle tickets for an online raffle.

Working in partnership with The Saratoga Winery and the Barnsider BBQ of Lake George the $30 single meal (carry-out) will include pulled pork, BBQ bone-in chicken with mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. Other items on the menu include the TRF Signature Cocktail featuring Pick Six Strawberry Jam Vodka along with your choice of apple, blueberry, strawberry or rhubarb pie from Mourningkill Bake Shop.

For a full list of menu items and other TRF merchandise, please visit https://www.trfinc.org/event/bbq-at-the-barn-2020/.

All orders must be placed by 12 p.m. on Friday, August 7 (pre-ordered, carry-out only). Sponsorships are welcome.

To retire a horse to the TRF, horse owners are asked to visit the TRF website at http://www.trfinc.org and review the retirement process and apply online. Each application is reviewed by the TRF's national herd manager, in consultation with the Herd Committee of the TRF Board of Directors, who then review each application and approve, place or waitlist each horse that meets retirement criteria.

For more information about the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, or to sponsor a horse at Wallkill or at one of the 500+ retired racehorses in the TRF Herd, please visit https://www.trfinc.org/you-can-help.

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NYRA Report 9.4% Increase In Handle On Saratoga’s Opening Weekend

The New York Racing Association announced on Sunday that all-sources handle for opening weekend of the 2020 Saratoga summer meet totaled $80,325,660, a 9.4 percent increase over last year's opening weekend, which generated $73,441,101 from all sources.

Saratoga's recently completed opening weekend, Thursday, July 16, through Sunday, July 19, corresponds with the four-day period in 2019 from Thursday, July 11, to Sunday, July 14.

Under New York State guidelines, Saratoga Race Course is currently operating without spectators in attendance.

Closing weekend at Belmont Park for the 2020 spring/summer meet generated all-sources handle of $41,452,573 from Thursday, July 9, through Sunday, July 12.

Wagering funds the majority of the NYRA purse account, which supports the racing ecosystem by sustaining horsemen and hundreds of small businesses across New York state. Thoroughbred racing in New York is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact to the state, including $240 million alone in the Capital Region during a traditional Saratoga meet.

Racing at Saratoga resumes Wednesday, July 22 with the first steeplechase of the meet at 12:50 p.m. Post time for the day's first Thoroughbred race is 1:21 p.m. Wednesday's card features the inaugural running of the Lubash for New York-breds on the turf.

Saratoga Live presents daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit NYRA.com/SaratogaLive. .

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course and the best way to bet every race of the 40-day summer meet. 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 NYRABets.com.

NYRA Bets Gift Cards are now available at more than 150 Stewart's Shops across the greater Capital Region, including Warren County. The gift cards, which are available in $50 denominations, can be used to deposit funds automatically into a NYRA Bets account for betting Saratoga Race Course online this summer.

NYRA Bets Gift Cards can be used to fund both active and new NYRA Bets accounts. Fans who open a new NYRA Bets account with a NYRA Bets Gift Card are eligible for a new member bonus. For a complete list of participating Stewart's Shops locations, visit StewartsShops.com/participating-nyra-shops/.

With the conclusion of opening weekend, racing at Saratoga will now be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays. Closing week will run Wednesday, September 2 through Labor Day, Monday, September 7.

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

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Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 To Feature Action From Saratoga, Monmouth, Woodbine

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host an all-graded-stakes Cross Country Pick 5, featuring action from Saratoga Race Course, Monmouth Park and Woodbine Racetrack.

Live coverage of all the races in the sequence for the first Saturday of the Saratoga summer meet will be available with America's Day at the Races on FS1 and MSG+.

Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence are now available for download at https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/cross-country-wagers.

Monmouth, located in Oceanport, New Jersey, will host the first two legs of the sequence, starting with the Grade 3, $300,000 Monmouth Cup for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles in Race 10 at 4:40 p.m. Eastern. As part of the Grade 1 Haskell undercard, the Monmouth Cup will see Joevia, the 2019 Grade 1 Belmont Stakes third-place finisher, return to the track where he broke his maiden in July 2018 and also where he captured last year's Long Branch. The Gregg Sacco trainee will be part of a 10-horse field that includes Global Campaign, the 2019 Grade 3 Peter Pan winner at Belmont Park who also ran third in last year's Grade 2 Jim Dandy for trainer Stanley Hough.

The action will continue at Monmouth for the Grade 1, $300,000 United Nations in Race 11 at 5:12 p.m. The 1 3/8-mile turf route will see Current, the third-place finisher in the Grade 2 Kitten's Joy Pan American in March, as part of a nine-horse field. Current, the Todd Pletcher trainee who captured the 2018 Grade 3 Dixiana Bourbon, will go up against a field that includes Standard Deviation, who ran third in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby in November at Del Mar for conditioner Graham Motion. Standard Deviation ran second this year in Qatar in the Group 1 H.H. The Amir Trophy.

An international flavor will be added to the Cross Country Pick 5 when it shifts to Woodbine for the Grade 2, $175,000 Royal North in Race 9 at 5:28 p.m. Summer Sunday, one of two entrants for trainer Stuart Simon, will look to repeat as winner in defending her 2019 victory. Summer Sunday was named Canada's champion female sprinter in 2019 and made her 5-year-old debut by running third in the Grade 3 Whimsical on June 21 at Woodbine. Simon will also saddle Sister Peacock in the six-furlong Royal North.

The penultimate leg will be Monmouth's signature race, the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell in Race 12 at 5:48 p.m. A “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Keeneland, the Haskell will also offer qualifying points to September's Grade 1 Kentucky Derby for the first time in history. The top four-finishers will receive 100-40-20-10 points towards the “Run for the Roses,” with seven sophomores competing at 1 1/8 miles.

Authentic, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, is the 4-5 morning-line favorite after starting his year with victories in the Grade 3 Sham and the Grade 2 San Felipe before running second in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on June 6. He will face a talented seven-horse field that includes the Pletcher trained Dr Post, who ran second to Tiz the Law in last month's Grade 1 Belmont Stakes. The rest of the field includes Jesus' Team, Ancient Warrior, Fame To Famous, Lebda and NY Traffic.

Historic Saratoga Race Course will conclude the sequence with the third Grade 1, offering the $350,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies in Race 10 at 6:16 p.m. Offering 100-40-20-10 qualifying points to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, the Coaching Club American Oaks will see multiple graded-stakes winner Tonalist's Shape, who boasts six wins from seven starts, sent out by trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. Baffert will send out will send out Crystal Ball, who graduated last out by 6 ¼ lengths on June 14 in a 1 1/16-miles maiden at Santa Anita. Antoinette, Altaf, Velvet Crush and Paris Lights will also attempt the 1 ¼-mile test.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, July 18:
Leg 1 – Monmouth, Race 10: Grade 3 Monmouth Park (4:40 p.m.)
Leg 2 – Monmouth, Race 11: Grade 1 United Nations (5:12 p.m.)
Leg 3 – Woodbine, Race 9: Grade 2 Royal North (5:28 p.m.)
Leg 4 – Monmouth, Race 12: Grade 1 Haskell (5:48 p.m.)
Leg 5 – Saratoga, Race 10: Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks (6:16 p.m.)

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NYRA Invites Fans to Enjoy Saratoga Virtually With ‘Your Summer Place’

The New York Racing Association is inviting fans to celebrate the 2020 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course remotely with an assortment of virtual events and downloadable content.

For the 40-day meet that runs from July 16 through Sept. 7, fans can access the “Your Summer Place” experience via the NYRA Events page. Posters, tip sheets, recipes and more will be added throughout the meet to help fans stay close to the racing action from the comfort of their own homes.

“Your Summer Place” will provide an immersive, at-home initiative designed to maximize the ways fans can experience the action at the Spa while still adhering to New York state guidelines regarding live racing without spectators in attendance.

Downloadable items also include a featured restaurant of the week, which will highlight a different Saratoga Springs-based establishment that encompasses both a restaurant bio and links to recipes crafted specially by the restaurant. Keeping with the food theme, Levy, Saratoga’s food-and-beverage provider, will also create special recipes throughout the summer to bolster the dining choices of any horseplayer.

“Your Summer Place” will also offer downloadable posters–and special trading cards–of each GI Whitney S. contender and provide full profile information for every contender in the GI Runhappy Travers S.

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