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NYRA Seeks Partnership With Cornell That Would Enhance Equine Safety

The annual state budget proposed by the New York State Assembly includes an initiative that would establish a new partnership between Cornell University and the New York Racing Association, Inc (NYRA) to enhance equine safety through the use of advanced imaging technology.

The budget calls for NYRA to make an initial investment of $2 million to purchase the necessary equipment. The ongoing project will be funded by assessing the most successful out-of-state ADW platforms.

The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law will be amended by adding a new section 902-a to read as follows: “Equine screening and advanced imaging expenses. 1. In order to assure the public's confidence and continue the high degree of integrity in racing at the pari-mutuel betting tracks, clinical services related to screening and advanced imaging shall be conducted by a land grant university within this state at a location proximate to a race- track owned by the state.”

The machinery will be located at the Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists adjacent to Belmont Park. According to NYRA, the cost to horsemen to use the imaging equipment will “be reasonable to encourage use.”

Budget negotiations will take place between the NYS Assembly, Senate and Governor's Office in the coming weeks.

“This investment would dramatically expand the availability of highly-advanced imaging technology used to identify pre-existing conditions before they result in serious equine injuries,” said NYRA spokesperson Pat McKenna. “In addition to diagnosing the types of issues that may have gone unnoticed in the past, the partnership between NYRA and Cornell University will ensure the technology is located just outside the gates of Belmont Park and available to trainers and owners at a reasonable cost. In addition, the partnership will generate important academic research around the biomechanics and veterinary treatment of thoroughbreds in training. NYRA has embraced a wide variety of equine safety enhancements rooted in science and technology, and we strongly support this initiative.”

The agreement with Cornell is the latest step taken by NYRA to improve horse safety. Over the past year, NYRA has partnered with Arioneo Equine Technology to monitor heart rate and movement patterns of horses during more than 3,000 timed workouts; opened a research study on electrocardiograms with equine cardiologists and data science experts at Cornell and Carnegie Mellon University; incorporated Sleip, an AI-based equine gait diagnostic tool, into NYRA's daily regulatory veterinary exams; continuously monitored and tested various emerging applications and technologies and instituted an additional level of veterinary scrutiny for all horses seeking to compete at the NYRA venues.

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Oklahoma Training Track To Open Apr. 18

The Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course will open Thursday, Apr. 18, officials at the New York Racing Association (NYRA), with the barn area opening to licensed trainers and staff from Monday, Apr. 15.

As Saratoga prepares to host the 2024 Belmont Stakes Fesitval June 6-9, the main track will open one month earlier than customary on Monday, May 6.

Due to the ongoing construction at Belmont Park, there will be significant changes to the usual NYRA training schedule. The Belmont main track will remain closed for training through the spring and summer as NYRA reconstructs the dirt surface and both turf courses while finishing the installation of a new one-mile synthetic surface. The Belmont training track, synthetic pony track and a jogging barn will be open for daily training throughout the spring and summer.

In light of the construction, NYRA is waiving all stall rental fees at Saratoga for the spring training season beginning May 6, assuming all trainer accounts are current through the end of 2023.

The spring/summer and fall meets normally scheduled for Belmont Park will be run at Aqueduct, as previously announced.

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Gyarmati Surrenders License, Stalls Revoked by NYRA

New York-based trainer Leah Gyarmati voluntarily surrendered her license Mar. 1 and subsequently had her stalls at Belmont revoked by NYRA following separate incidents, according to a story first reported by DRF. Stewards scratched horses she had entered last weekend at Aqueduct and the 12 horses under her care were transferred to her former assistant trainer Marcelo Arenas, who took out his own license in 2021.

Gyarmati told the DRF's David Grening that she failed a breathalyzer after she was awakened by NYRA security when found sleeping in her truck, which was parked by Belmont's training track following training hours. She told Grening she had eaten a sandwich and drank two beers and was napping. Gyarmati, who was ordered by state officials to meet with a substance-abuse counselor by a specific date, indicated she was unable to schedule an appointment by that date and has since met with a counselor and was awaiting the counselor's report.

The DRF said that In a separate incident, a horse trained by Gyarmati reportedly recently exited the track lame and was returned to the barn by Gyarmati's exercise rider and stable employee. According to Gyarmati, she remained at the track with her other horses and later returned to her barn. NYRA contradicted her account to the DRF, citing that officials had to request radiographs of the horse and that she didn't return to the barn until the next morning when the vet returned for a follow-up examination.

“I showed up as soon as the last horse I was training finished training,” Gyarmati told DRF. “I came back to the barn, and the vet was X-raying the horse.”

Gyarmati confirmed to DRF that the horse underwent surgery to have one screw inserted to repair a fractured cannon bone and is convalescing on a farm.

“Following a thorough review of recent incidents, NYRA revoked all stalls previously granted to trainer Leah Gyarmati,” read a statement issued by NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna. “Subsequent to this action, Gyarmati voluntarily surrendered her New York State-issued owner, trainer, and exercise rider licenses and is not currently able to participate in Thoroughbred racing activities. NYRA retains the exclusive right to grant or revoke stall space at its properties at any time.”

Gyarmati, who has been training for 25 years, has never been cited for any violations in New York.

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NY Governor Hochul Provides Belmont Park Update

Edited Press Release

New York Governor Kathy Hochul provided a project timeline and additional updates Monday on the construction of new racing facilities at Belmont Park. The New York Racing Association, which will oversee construction, also released a series of architectural renderings to bring the project's vision to life. Expected to be completed in late 2026, the multi-year project to build a new Belmont Park will generate $1 billion in construction-related economic impact and create 3,700 construction-related jobs. Following the return of thoroughbred racing to Belmont in 2026, additional racing and non-racing activities at the new facility will generate $155 million in annual economic output and produce $10 million in new state and local tax revenue per year.

“The redevelopment of Belmont Park is a critical investment in one of New York's most historic sporting venues,” said Governor Hochul. “The new facility will support year-round racing, thousands of new jobs for Long Islanders and provide an enhanced experience for customers attending the iconic Belmont Stakes for generations to come.”

The demolition of the current Belmont Park grandstand/clubhouse is expected to begin in March and continue through early July with the new building beginning to take shape in early 2025.

NYRA has developed a project plan that will allow for the Belmont S. to return to Belmont Park in June of 2026 prior to the full opening of the new building, which is scheduled for September of 2026. Although a venue for the 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships has yet to be determined, the new Belmont Park will be complete and ready to host the 2026 Breeders' Cup should the opportunity arise. The Breeders' Cup has announced its commitment to add Belmont to the rotation of host venues following NYRA's modernization of the facility.

NYRA will also make further investments to improve the quality of life in the backstretch community, including:

–Improvements to the on-site medical facility

–Installing a modern Blue Light security system

–Upgrading the Recreation Hall and Track Kitchen facilities

–Renovating the on-site Gymnasium

–Implementing new flood mitigation strategies

–Ensuring access to reliable Wi-Fi

–Replacing fencing throughout the backstretch

–Improving multi-modal travel through constructing bicycle storage sheds

–Assess the feasibility of subsidized assistant trainer efficiency apartments

While the new Belmont Park will have the same 50,000-person capacity as the existing venue, the layout of seats, suites, and standing spaces has been adjusted to accommodate flexible seasonal attendance. The addition of a winterized building paired with new racing surfaces and a synthetic track will result in a facility suitable to host thoroughbred racing on a year-round basis. As required by the 2024 Enacted Budget, NYRA will consolidate all downstate racing and training activities at the new Belmont Park to unlock 110 acres of New York State-owned land at Aqueduct Racetrack for development opportunities.

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