Patrick McKenna | Horse Racing Free Tips

NYRA: If Necessary, We’d Prefer Belmont-at-Saratoga

With the construction of the new Belmont Park scheduled to begin after the spring 2024 meet, and plans for the 2025 event still uncertain, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) expressed their preference that a non-Belmont-Park Belmont Stakes be held at Saratoga rather than Aqueduct.

“Should the construction of a new Belmont Park require the Belmont Stakes to be run at a different venue, then NYRA's preference would absolutely be to hold the event at Saratoga Racecourse,” said NYRA's Director of Communications, Patrick McKenna, in a text to the TDN on Monday.

In an interview on this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast, NYRA CEO David O'Rourke said that plans call for the new Belmont to be finished before the 2026 Belmont, and early conversation with NYRA had centered on possibly holding the Belmont at Aqueduct in 2025 and even 2026 if necessary. Other options, like tents at Belmont, have also been discussed. “Right now, we're in the master planning stage,” said O'Rourke on the Writers' Room. “Ideally, we'd like to have the project completed for the 2026 Belmont. I'm saying that before we have gone deep into the planning and the staging, but that is our goal entering into the process.”

However, said McKenna, “A Belmont Stakes at Saratoga is an event that would capture the attention of the entire sports world while driving tourism and economic impact for upstate New York.”

The current Belmont was opened in 1968, and will be torn down and rebuilt courtesy of a $455-million loan from the state of New York.

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Belmont Race Down to Two Horses After Lasix Mix-Up; Veterinarian Dismissed

The third race at Belmont Park Friday was left with just two horses entered to run after Lasix was not administered to four horses who were supposed to receive it. The veterinarian charged with administering the Lasix, Dr. Steven Lascher, “is no longer employed by NYRA,” the company said.

The race, a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at one mile had drawn six entries, but was left with just two: Pharoah's Heart (American Pharoah) and Honey Money (Central Banker) after the omission came to light.

“Four horses entered to run in today's R3 at Belmont Park @TheNYRA were not administered Lasix within the permitted timeframe,” Tweeted NYRA's Director of Communications, Patrick McKenna. “As a result, Impazible Donna (#1), Dancing Sophia (#2), Ok Honey (#5) and Movie Moxy (#6) have been scratched by the stewards.”

Reached by email, McKenna outlined the relevant rule requiring the stewards to scratch the horses.

The rule is Gaming Commission rule, 4043.2 Section 7, which reads. “Ineligibility to start. Any horse that is eligible for the administration of furosemide must be present on the grounds of the racing association or corporation no less than four hours prior to scheduled post time of the race in which the horse is scheduled to compete. A horse that is not present at least four hours prior to post time or that has not received the administration of furosemide pursuant to this subdivision shall be ineligible to start.”

“Per the stewards, purse money only is not an option in this instance,” McKenna added. “NYRA is responsible for the administration of Lasix at Belmont Park, not the New York State Gaming Commission. NYRA will review the relevant internal protocols and update as necessary.”

“What I was told was that the vet did not administer Lasix to four of the six participants, which caused them to be scratched,” said Linda Rice, who was scheduled to send out Movie Moxie (Street Sense) in the race. “Obviously no one is happy.”

Rice said that the Lasix should have been administered between 9:30 and 10 a.m., and that four hours before post time, scheduled for 2:16 p.m., those horses who had not been treated were scratched.

Trainer Rob Atras sent out Honey Money, who did receive Lasix Friday morning.

“I'm not there today, but what I was told is that the vet missed (giving them) the Lasix,” said Atras. “I don't know how he got two, but missed the other four,” he said, adding that Michelle Nevin's starter, Pharoah's Heart, is in a barn close to his, and also received the medication.

A spokesman for the New York State Gaming Commission said that the commission had no official comment for publication.

Friday's was the second incident in under a year when four horses had to be scratched after not receiving Lasix in a timely manner–both involving Lascher. In 2022, he was fined $4,000 by the Gaming Commission after “failing to follow proper Lasix procedures necessitating the late scratches of horses racing.”

Friday's third race was won by Pharoah's Heart, who went off the 1-2 favorite.

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Senate and Assembly One House Budgets Include Project to Build a New Belmont Park

Edited Press Release

As the final weeks of budget negotiations begin, both the Senate and Assembly majorities included the project to build a new Belmont Park in their “One House” budget resolutions. The project was also included in Governor Kathy Hochul's Executive Budget Proposal last month.

The Belmont modernization project's inclusion in the Senate and Assembly One House budget resolutions comes just one day after over 100 New Yorkers–including organized labor, family farmers, small business owners, backstretch workers, and more–joined legislators from both parties to rally in the State Capitol in support of the project.

“The construction of a new Belmont Park that will create thousands of jobs, generate billions in economic activity and secure the future of Thoroughbred racing in New York State at no cost to taxpayers. By supporting this transformational project, Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie, and our partners in the legislature are protecting the interests of thousands of hard-working New Yorkers on Long Island and across the state,” said Patrick McKenna, Vice President for Communications at the New York Racing Association, Inc.

“Supporting a new Belmont Park also means standing up for organized labor, protecting countless small businesses, and preserving family farms reliant on the statewide racing ecosystem. Horse racing means jobs and opportunities for thousands of New York families in every corner of the state. That's what a new Belmont Park is all about, and we'll continue working with leaders in Albany to get this project across the finish line.”

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From the TIF: Fixed-Odds in NY Could be Next

Fixed-odds betting options on horse racing could come to New York residents if a new bill introduced by Senator Joseph Addabbo, Chairman of the state Senate's Racing, gaming and Wagering Committee, is passed, according to a story from the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation.

Senate Bill 2343 is similar to a measure introduced a year ago, also by Sen. Addabbo, but which was never advanced for a vote, TIF reports.

“There should be no doubt amongst racing stakeholders that our existing pari-mutuel offerings are not enough in today's competitive market,” said Thoroughbred Idea Foundation executive director Patrick Cummings.

“Fixed odds bets for racing won't replace pari-mutuel wagering, but rather complement our existing offerings, and meet modern customers with a modern product that they currently enjoy with widespread sports betting options.

“After adjusting for inflation, we estimate that mainstream handle on U.S. racing has declined by roughly two-thirds over the last 20 years. The pari-mutuel status quo with high takeout rates and the constant promotion of low-churn exotic bets have depleted our mass market customers. Fixed odds betting offers racing a chance to recapture those that drifted from the sport while introducing our product to new audiences.”

In a statement from the New York Racing Association published earlier this week by DRF, spokesman Patrick McKenna indicated the measure had NYRA's support and “presents an enormous opportunity for horse racing to share in the rapid growth and unrivaled success of New York State's mobile sports wagering marketplace.”

“Allowing mobile sports wagering platforms to offer premium horse racing content would generate untapped gaming revenue for New York State, attract new fans to horse racing, and deepen the sport's overall economic impact.”

TIF supported the expansion into complementary fixed odds options in its 2019 white paper, which can be reviewed here.

Last year was the first full season with fixed odds offerings for on-track customers at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, where the offering is managed by Australian firm BetMakers. Wider distribution to New Jersey customers, including ADW betting via fixed odds on Monmouth races and simulcasted races, is expected in 2023, the TIF reported.

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