“It's impressive to see how much of an economic engine horse racing is in the state of New York,” said NYTHA President Tina Marie Bond. “Together with a total economic impact of $3 billion statewide, racing has added over 2,000 direct jobs in the past five years. Racing supports land preservation and green space across the state, and is a significant driver of tourism both in the Capital Region and on Long Island. With the Belmont Stakes Festival at Saratoga for 2024 and 2025, as well as a redeveloped Belmont Park on the horizon, racing will continue to boost local economies and provide jobs for years to come.”

“The findings from the American Horse Council's economic impact study for New York report that the breeding and racing industry is an invaluable asset to our state,” said NYTB President Dr. Scott Ahlschwede, D.V.M. “Our state-bred program has positioned itself as the leading regional program in the nation, and we look forward to continuing to work with our fellow stakeholders to ensure that the additional investment in breeding and racing in New York will result in added revenue for all areas across the state.”

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A panel of New York turf writers, broadcasters, handicappers, racing analysts and photographers will vote on each division and for the New York-bred Horse of the Year. The winners will be announced at the NYTB Awards Dinner sponsored by the New York Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund on Monday, May 13 from 6-9 p.m. ET. at Sacred Saratoga on the property of GMP Farm in Schuylerville. Former jockey and NYRA TV personality Richard Migliore will again serve as host.

“Our organization is excited to celebrate this year's nominees. All are deserving and represent the best in New York breeding and racing. This year's awards will be a special night at an exciting new location,” said NYTB President Dr. Scott Ahlschwede, D.V.M.

Tickets are available–$150 for NYTB Members and $175 for non-members–for purchase by clicking here or by calling the NYTB Office at (518) 587-0777.

“The New York-bred Divisional Championship Awards is a special night because it recognizes the very best in Thoroughbred breeding and racing in New York,” said Brian O'Dwyer, Chairman of the New York State Gaming Commission and New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund. “On behalf of the New York State Gaming Commission and Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund we are proud to work with NYTB and look forward to celebrating the connections of New York-breds who achieved success representing the New York-bred program last year.”

Also to be honored at the Awards Dinner with 2023 awards will be Broodmare of the Year, Champion Steeplechaser, Trainer, Champion Jockey and Outstanding Breeder.

“NYTB's annual awards is our marquee event. This year's nominees are no exception reflecting the quality and strength of the New York-bred program,” said NYTB Executive Director Najja Thompson.

A list of the 2023 New York-bred divisional championship nominees by category follows:

Champion 2-Year-Old Male: Antonio of Venice (Laoban), El Grande O (Take Charge Indy), The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso), Wynstock (Solomini).

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly: Brocknardini (Palace Malice), Caldwell Luvs Gold (Goldencents), Cara's Time (Not This Time), My Mane Squeeze (Audible).

Champion 3-Year-Old Male: Allure of Money (Central Banker), Eye Witness (City of Light), Hejazi (Bernardini), Maker's Candy (Twirling Candy).

Champion 3-Year-Old Filly: Downtown Mischief (Into Mischief), Gambling Girl (Dialed In), Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic), Stonewall Star (Flatter).

Champion Older Dirt Male: Bankit (Central Banker), Dr Ardito (Liam's Map), Sherriff Bianco (Speightster), Straight Arrow (Arrogate).

Champion Older Dirt Female: Classy Edition (Classic Empire), Know It All Audrey (Shackleford), Timeless Journey (Verrazano), Venti Valentine (Firing Line).

Champion Turf Male: City Man (Mucho Macho Man), Red Knight (Pure Prize), Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia d'Oro), Therapist (Freud).

Champion Turf Female: New Ginya (Tonalist), Runaway Rumour (Flintshire {GB}), Silver Skillet (Liam's Map), Whatlovelookslike (English Channel).

Champion Male Sprinter: Bold Journey (Hard Spun), Today's Flavor (Laoban), Rotknee (Runhappy), Thin White Duke (Dominus).

Champion Female Sprinter: Funny How (Overanalyze), Maple Leaf Mel, Rossa Veloce (Girolamo), Sterling Silver (Cupid).

The post 2023 New York-Bred Divisional Championship Nominees Released By NYTB appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The annual auction raises funds that allow the NYTB to carry on its two-fold mission of promoting New York breeding and racing and protecting the welfare of industry stakeholders.

The auction has routinely attracted donated seasons from farms in the Empire State and Kentucky, including McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, Sequel New York, Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions, Rockridge Stud, Coolmore America, Lane's End, Darley America, Darby Dan Farm, and additional farms.

“We're extremely proud of the widespread participation and diverse quality of stallions standing in New York state and the Commonwealth of Kentucky for breeders to appropriately match their mare,” said New York Thoroughbred Breeders Executive Director Najja Thompson.

New York-bred program stakeholders receive more than $60 million distributed in purse money, breeding incentives, and awards for New York-breds eligible to compete in more than 600 New York-bred races run annually on the New York Racing Association circuit and Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack.

Visit nytbreeders.org to view the most current list of stallions in the auction. Contact NYTB directly at 518.587.0777 or info@nytbreeders.org to donate a season.

The post NYTB Stallion Season Auction Set for Feb. 6-8 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The trio were chosen by a panel of New York turf writers and represent the second class of honorees, joining last year's inaugural group of Fio Rito (Dreaming Native), Commentator (Distorted Humor), Fourstardave (Complicance), Funny Cide (Distorted Humor) and Tiz The Law (Constitution).

The post NYTB Honors Legendary New York-Bred Trio On Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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In addition, in an effort to make it easier to acquire Thoroughbreds via claims, another proposed change would extend time periods for owners to be eligible to claim horses.

Those measures, plus several other tweaks to the “Who may make claim” rule 4038.1, were advanced by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) at Thursday's monthly meeting.

There was zero discussion among commissioners prior to the unanimous voice vote.

The proposed changes must first be published in the state register and then go through a public commentary period before the NYSGC takes a final vote on them at a future commission meeting.

According to a brief written by NYSGC general counsel Edmund Burns that was included in the informational packet for the Aug. 3 meeting, some horse owners and their representatives have communicated to the commission staff that the current claiming rules “need revisions.”

Commission staff met with personnel from the New York Racing Association (NYRA), Finger Lakes, the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB), and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) in crafting the language changes, Burns wrote.

With respect to the time that a claimed horse must remain in-state, Burns wrote that “current rules prohibit a claimed horse from running outside New York for a period of 30 days. The proposal would extend that general prohibition to 60 days, which would mitigate entry shortages that have been experienced at New York tracks. An exception is proposed for horses claimed at Finger Lakes Racetrack toward the end of the Finger Lakes racing season, in which case the prohibition would be limited to 30 days from the end of the Finger Lakes racing season.”

On the time extensions for owners to be eligible to claim, the current version of the rule states that an owner must have “nominated a starter in the previous or current race meet.”

The proposed rewording would change the requirement to owners who have “started a horse: (1) within the previous 120 days, including the race in which such horse started, in a race meeting of the licensed or franchised association; or (2) in the current or previous race meeting.”

New owners who have not previously been licensed would also get a time extension.

Currently, a newly licensed owner “may apply to the stewards for a certificate authorizing him or her to claim one horse during the next 30 racing days following the issuance of the certificate.” The existing version of that rule also states that the stewards “may grant an extension” to that time period “if deemed appropriate.”

The proposed new language would change the “if deemed appropriate” part to an extension of “30 racing days if the certificate holder had entered a claim but had lost” the shake.

“NYRA conducts race meetings of varying lengths and horse populations,” Burns wrote in the brief. “Consequently, the current rule, which requires an owner, in order to be eligible to claim, to have entered a starter in the previous race meeting, precludes some otherwise active owners from claiming horses.

“Some owners may not have participated in a previous meeting because of the meeting's short duration or because racing opportunities had been incompatible with the owner's stable of horses. The proposed rule would address these concerns by allowing claimants who have raced on a circuit within 120 days, which would increase the number of owners qualified to make claims,” Burns wrote.

“Additionally, due to the frequency of multiple claims on a single horse, it is possible that someone actively trying to claim may not succeed in acquiring a horse within 30 racing days, which the current rule requires,” Burns wrote.

“Allowing 30 additional days for holders of a certificate of eligibility would provide an owner with an opportunity to claim when the owner has not been successful within the first 30 days of a race meeting, because the owner has lost the opportunity to claim to another claimant when multiple claims had been made on the same horse. Creating an opportunity to extend claiming eligibility for unsuccessful claimants would allow these owners additional chances to claim a horse,” Burns wrote.

Additionally, current NYSGC regulations provide that when a horse is claimed from a particular value class, the horses is ineligible to start in the same value class for 30 days.

According to the brief written by Burns, “A review of recent data, however, indicates that horses generally run on a 28-day schedule and condition books generally schedule a value class every 28 days. Under current regulations, a claimant who wants to start a horse again in the same class may be effectively forced to wait 56 days from the date of the claim. The position has been advanced that such period is unnecessarily long and causes issues for owners, trainers and the racetrack, which seeks to fill competitive races.”

The solution, according to the proposed rewording, will be to make the regulation state that, “If a horse is claimed the horse shall not start in a claiming race for a period of 20 days from the date of the claim for less than 25 percent more than the amount for which such horse was claimed.”

A new clause would be inserted that further states, “For a period of 10 days thereafter, a horse is eligible to start for a claiming price equal to or greater than the price at which the horse had been claimed. On the 31st day, the horse may start in a claiming race for any price.”

Burns wrote that “By reducing the requisite waiting period, owners will have a greater opportunity to start a horse for the price at which the horse had been claimed, given that the owners would be able to gain access to races that had already been written in the track's condition book 28 days in advance.”

Rice penalty revision on target for Sept.

Separately, NYSGC Executive Director Robert Williams detailed the expected timeline for commissioners to revisit a possible penalty for trainer Linda Rice, who on June 8 had a New York Supreme Court Appellate Division rule that a three-year banishment imposed by the NYSGC was “entirely unwarranted.”

Linda Rice | Sarah Andrew

As TDN reported back in June, the Gaming Commission fined Rice $50,000 and revoked her license for three years in 2021 after investigating claims that Rice received favorable treatment from the NYRA racing office and that the racing office was releasing to her the names and past performances of horses that had already been entered in races, giving her an unfair advantage. It was further alleged that Rice had paid racing officials in exchange for the information, a charge she denied. She did admit to routinely giving members of the racing department, as well as the gate crew, Christmas presents.

Williams said that the court ruling upheld the commission's determination that the “improper practices” rule had been violated and that the court rejected Rice's constitutional claim. But the court overturned the three-year revocation, and sent the matter back to the commission to reassess the penalty “with the constraint that any reassessed penalty cannot contain a license revocation.”

Williams said the case materials will be recirculated to each of the commissioners, and that both the commission's counsel and Rice's legal team have been asked to update their post-hearing briefs with respect to penalty recommendations.

“The matter should be set for consideration at the commission's September meeting,” Williams said.

Brian O'Dwyer, the NYSGC chairman, said, “I urge the commissioners that, obviously, the Rice matter is something that we need to look at. In particular, three of the commissioners are new to the matter, having been appointed after the penalty had been assessed. Obviously, we're under court mandate to reassess that penalty, and I know that we'll all take that very seriously.”

The post NY Claiming Rules Revision Would Keep Horses In-State for 60 Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“NYRA is committed to supporting and enhancing the New York-bred program now and in the future,” said Frank Gabriel, NYRA SVP of Racing Operations. “These purse increases reflect the sustained growth of the New York-bred marketplace while also rewarding owners already invested in the program.”

The purse for registered New York-breds running in select open-company races will be 30 percent higher than the purse offered for non-New York-breds. Additionally, New York State Breeding Fund Owner Awards (NYSBFOA) and breeder awards will be paid on top of the 30 percent additional purse for registered New York-breds.

“The opportunity for registered New York-breds to compete for elevated purses in select open company conditions during the Saratoga meet, along with increases in breeder and open company awards provided by the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund reflect the commitment by New York's respective thoroughbred racing stakeholders in continuing to elevate the New York-bred program,” said Najja Thompson, New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) Executive Director. “We are confident much of the money earned from these purse increases will be reinvested in New York-breds, starting with the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Select Yearlings Sale in August at Saratoga.”

The post NYRA To Increase Purses For NY-Breds At Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Entries for the sale will close on May 30, and the catalogue will be released on May 31.

“We are thrilled to once again partner with Wanamaker's to give buyers and sellers the opportunity to market and purchase New York-bred horses of racing age ahead of the summer racing season in New York,” NYTB Executive Director Najja Thompson said. “Following last year's sale, we received an overwhelming amount of good feedback. Looking to improve on the format to the utmost benefit of buyers and sellers, our new sale date on Thursday, June 8 will allow purchasers the opportunity to take the utmost advantage of owning a New York-bred with our racing program and awards with the opportunity to compete during the remainder of the Spring/Summer meet at Belmont Park and the entire Saratoga Race Course season.”

Prospective buyers may browse the website to view pedigrees, pictures, and videos of each hip offered. In-person inspections
may be scheduled by contacting sellers with the information provided in the catalogue. The entry fee for the auction will be $300 and commissions will be 5% on sales and zero on RNAs. To enter a horse, go to the Wanamaker's website.

The post Wanamaker’s and NYTB Partner Again for Online Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The 2022 New York-bred divisional champions and New York-bred Horse of the Year will be announced at the NYTB Awards Dinner sponsored by the New York Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund at 7 p.m. Monday, May 8 at Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs.

New York riding legend and NYRA TV personality Richard Migliore will again host the Awards Dinner. Tickets are available – $150 for NYTB members and $175 for non-members – for purchase at www.nytbreeders.org/events or by calling the NYTB Office at (518) 587-0777.

Also, to be honored at the Awards Dinner with 2022 awards will be Broodmare of the Year, Champion Steeplechaser, Trainer, Champion Jockey and Outstanding Breeder.

A list of the 2022 New York-bred divisional championship nominees by category follows.

Champion 2-Year-Old Male: Acoustic Ave, Andiamo a Firenze, Arctic Arrogance, Vacation Dance.

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly: Gambling Girl, Les Bon Temps, Stonewall Star, You're My Girl.

Champion 3-Year-Old Male: Barese, Rotknee, Un Ojo, Run Curtis Run.

Champion 3-Year-Old Filly: Fingal's Cave, Spendarella, Sterling Silver, Venti Valentine.

Champion Older Dirt Male: Americanrevolution, Bankit, Dr. Blute, Wudda U Think Now.

Champion Older Dirt Female: Bank Sting, Betsy Blue, Kept Waiting, Make Mischief.

Champion Turf Male: City Man, Dancing Buck, Red Knight, Somelikeithotbrown.

Champion Turf Female: Dream Central, Robin Sparkles, Runaway Rumour, Spendarella.

Champion Male Sprinter: Dancing Buck, My Boy Tate, Thin White Duke, Wudda U Think Now.

Champion Female Sprinter: Bank Sting, Betsy Blue, Robin Sparkles, Sterling Silver

The post NYTB Announces NY-Bred Championship Nominations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The auction raises funds that allow the NYTB to carry on its two-fold mission of promoting New York breeding and racing and protecting the welfare of industry stakeholders.

Attracting donated seasons from farms in the Empire State and Kentucky, the auction has included McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, Sequel New York, Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions, Rockridge Stud, Darley, WinStar Farm, Darby Dan Farm, and Gainesway Farm.

“The benefit of our annual stallion season auction is that it allows participants to find great value on stallions from leading farms in New York, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and elsewhere while helping our mission to protect and enhance the incentives and awards that have made the New York-bred program the strongest regional breeding program in the country,” said New York Thoroughbred Breeders Executive Director Najja Thompson.

New York-bred program stakeholders receive more than $60 million distributed in purse money, incentives, and awards for New York-breds who compete in more than 600 New York-bred races run annually on the New York Racing Association circuit and Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack.

Additionally, there are specific enhanced programs targeted for New York-Sired New York-breds, including the $2.3 million 10-race New York Stallion Stakes Series and the New York-sired owner's bonus programs on the New York Racing Association circuit.

Donations of stallion seasons will be accepted until the beginning of the auction. Please visit to view the current list of stallions in the auction and contact NYTB directly at 518.587.0777 or info@nytbreeders.org to donate a season.

All bids will be subject to the rules and conditions of the auction and each season's conditions will be posted. All participants must be registered in advance, click here.

The post NYTB Stallion Season Auction Returns in Late Jan. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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While the scope of the years-in-the-planning project was largely framed in general terms as being able to bring state-wide economic benefits at no cost to taxpayers, several details did emerge about the ongoing attempt to modernize Belmont while closing Aqueduct Racetrack so that all downstate Thoroughbred racing eventually gets consolidated at one facility that is more functional and aesthetically pleasing than the other two outdated tracks.

The first bit of news is that the cost of the Belmont overhaul has risen slightly since a similar bond bill failed to gain support in the state legislature when the 2022 session expired in June.

Jeffrey Cannizzo, the senior director of government affairs at the New York Racing Association (NYRA), said a new Belmont would require “roughly $455 million” in state-backed bonds.

That's up 1.1% from the $450 million NYRA had sought via the bill earlier this year. But considering that inflation in the United States has rocketed upward at a 7.7% rate over the past year, that cost revision seems marginal.

“Belmont Park would be taken down, starting from scratch. So we're talking a completely new grandstand and clubhouse, right sized for a modern-age racecourse,” Cannizzo said.

Cannizzo also explained that “the clubhouse will be the last part of these efforts” and that the new, streamlined version of the facility would fit within a “similar footprint.”

Alluding to the work that's already being undertaken to build infield tunnels and possibly add a synthetic racing surface inside Belmont's cavernous infield, Cannizzo described the project as being built from the “inside out” if the state grants NYRA the bonds, which would then be paid back by NYRA through its share of video lottery terminal (VLT) revenue.

“Here's the vision: No taxpayer dollars are on the line. A state asset dramatically improves, and a world-class venue side by side with UBS arena,” Cannizzo said, referencing the recently-opened neighboring home of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders that, like the track, sits atop state-owned land.

“The VLT revenue comes that directly to NYRA, it's specifically earmarked for capital projects just like this,” Cannizzo said.

But because that revenue doesn't flow to NYRA in one huge $455-million chunk, It needs help from the state in fronting the money. The bonds would also likely offer a more attractive, lower rate than if NYRA sought a loan elsewhere.

The press conference was geared to a non-racing audience, and by having representatives speak from the Business Council of New York State and the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, it was clear that a primary goal of We Are NY Horse Racing is to get across the message that a rebuilt Belmont will generate trickle-down benefits extending far beyond just the Thoroughbred industry and the local economy on Long Island.

Najja Thompson, the executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., warned that, “Without a strong horse racing ecosystem in New York, breeders can decide to move across state lines.”

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