New York Racing Association

Pletcher Hoping Recent History Repeats Itself in The Tom Fool
Thursday, July 02, 2009
By Jenny Kellner

Munnings In 34 previous editions of the Tom Fool Handicap, three-year-olds have been victorious only three times, most recently in 2000 when Todd Pletcher saddled Trippi to a 4½-length victory in the seven-furlong race. Sunday, Pletcher is hoping history repeats itself when he sends out Michael B. Tabor’s sophomore star Munnings against four older horses in the Grade 2, $200,000 sprint at Belmont Park. ... more

Calvin Borel Autograph Signing Saturday at Belmont Park
Thursday, July 02, 2009
By Ashley Herriman

Calvin Borel Jockey Calvin Borel, regular rider of Preakness and Mother Goose winner Rachel Alexandra, will autograph photos at Belmont Park on Saturday, July 4 from 2-2:45 p.m. Borel will sign 8x10 glossy, color copies of Rachel Alexandra from the June 27 Grade 1 Mother Goose Stakes, a race in which the Steve Asmussen-trained filly shattered two stakes records – margin of victory and final time. ... more

Free Seminar To Kick Off Fasig-Tipton Festival Of Racing
Thursday, July 02, 2009
By Ashley Herriman

On Saturday morning, Aug. 8, Fasig-Tipton and co-sponsors The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), ThoroFan, and New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) will host a free education program “From the Horse Farm to the Finish Line: A Seminar on the Thoroughbred Industry” in the sales pavilion on East Avenue. ... more

Dwyer, Suburban Promise Fierce Competition
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
By Ashley Herriman

Kensei Like the Grade 1 Prioress, both the Grade 2 Dwyer Stakes and the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap on Saturday’s Fourth of July card at Belmont Park have much to offer in terms of storied history and fierce competition in their respective renewals. ... more

Fleet Field of Nine Assembled For Grade 1 Prioress
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
By Jenny Kellner

Gabby’s Golden Gal The only Grade 1 six-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies in the United States, the $300,000 Prioress at Belmont Park has long been a showcase for some of the fastest fillies on the planet, from Ta Wee in 1969 to Safely Kept in 1989, Xtra Heat in 2001 to Indian Blessing in 2008. ... more

Racing and Wagering Board Now Allowing More Superfectas
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Contact: Joe Mahoney

The New York State Racing and Wagering Board today enacted new directives that lay the groundwork for more Superfecta wagering opportunities for both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing fans. “Superfectas are popular with some racing fans because if you’re lucky enough to hold a winning ticket, the payoff can be a princely sum,” ... more

Belmont Park Notes
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
By Jenny Kellner

Ready’s Echo The upcoming Fourth of July weekend at Belmont Park promises to deliver plenty of fireworks on the track, with a trio of great stakes races on Saturday, Independence Day, in the Grade 2, $400,000 Suburban Handicap, the Grade 2, $200,000 Dwyer for three-year-olds and the Grade 1, $300,000 ... more

First Annual Fasig-Tipton 5k to benefit New York Racing Association Backstretch Charities
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
By NYRA Press Office

Fasig-Tipton will host a 5k race (3.1 miles) and a one-mile ‘fun run,’ starting in front of the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, NY on Saturday, August 15. All proceeds will be divided equally among the New York Racing Association’s four charities: The Anna House, Backstretch Employee Service Team, New York Racetrack Chaplaincy ... more

"Rachel" Takes Up Summer Residence in Saratoga Springs
Sunday, June 28, 2009
By Jenny Kellner

Rachel Alexandra Scarcely 12 hours after her record-setting victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose at Belmont Park, Rachel Alexandra stepped onto a van that carried her up the Northway to Saratoga Race Course, which will be the base for her summer campaign ... more

Amityville Resident Wins Belmont Handicapping Challenge
Sunday, June 28, 2009
By Jenny Kellner

William Garb William Garb, a 52-year-old former computer operator from Amityville, N.Y., claimed the $40,000 grand prize in Belmont Park’s 2009 Summer Handicapping Challenge, defeating 229 other contestants en route to victory ... more

Porte Bonheur Takes Flight in First Flight Handicap
Sunday, June 28, 2009
By Jenny Kellner

Porte Bonheur Her name translates into “Lucky Charm,” and Sunday afternoon at Belmont Park, Porte Bonheur made her own luck as she ran down Spritely in the final strides to take the 32nd running of the Grade 2, $150,000 First Flight Handicap for fillies and mares ... more

No Fairy Tale - Rachel Alexandra Best in Mother Goose
Saturday, June 27, 2009
By Lane Gold

Rachel Alexandra For a brief second, it looked like Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra might be in for a tough race, but on the far turn jockey Calvin Borel asked his filly for run and with an explosive move she quickly opened up for an authoritative 19 1/4-length win in the Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose ... more

Belmont Park Notes
Friday, June 26, 2009
By Eric Donovan

Steve Asmussen Preakness and Kentucky Oaks champion Rachel Alexandra galloped about a mile and a quarter on Belmont’s fast main track early this morning, well in advance of a 9:30 a.m. downpour. On Saturday, racing’s hottest star will be a heavy favorite against four rivals in the Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes. Admission is free for all women and pink bracelets with Rachel Alexandra’s name will be given away to the first 10,000 customers in support of owner Jess Jackson’s decision to donate a percentage of the filly’s future earnings to the Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure” for breast cancer. ... more

Rachel Alexandra Continues Mother Goose Preparations
Thursday, June 25, 2009
By Jenny Kellner

Rachel Alexandra Trainer Steve Asmussen continued to put the finishing touches on Rachel Alexandra’s preparations for Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park, as the filly went to the gate in the morning and schooled in the paddock in the afternoon. The 3-year-old filly, the first of her sex to win the Preakness Stakes ... more

Transcript of NYRA's Wednesday National Media Conference with Jess Jackson and Calvin Borel
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Contact: Dan Silver

Calvin Borel Operator: Welcome to today's New York Racing Association National Media teleconference. The call is being recorded. At this time, I would like to turn the call over to Mr. Dan Silver, Director and Communications and Media Relations of NYRA. Please go ahead, sir.
Dan Silver: Thank you. I'd like to thank everyone for joining our NYRA National Media Teleconference today. .. more

Rachel Alexandra Website Launches on NYRA.com
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Contact: Jenny Kellner

Fans of Rachel Alexandra can connect with the star 3-year-old filly on her own website, “Rachel’s Sandbox” (www.nyra.com/rachel), set up by The New York Racing Association, Inc., as she prepares for a summer campaign beginning with Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park ... more

MSG Plus Offers Live Mother Goose Coverage
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Contact: Dan Silver

MSG Plus, in partnership with The New York Racing Association, Inc., will offer live coverage of the Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose on Saturday, June 27 from 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. The Mother Goose features the return of Rachel Alexandra, the 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro who ... more

Rachel Alexandra Arrives at Belmont Park
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Contact: Jenny Kellner

Rachel Alexandra Following an uneventful flight from Louisville, Ky., Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra arrived safely at Belmont Park late Tuesday afternoon for her next start, Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Accompanied by assistant trainer Scott Blasi, exercise rider Dominic Terry, the Stonestreet Stables security team, and four other thoroughbreds, Rachel Alexandra departed Churchill Downs at noon (EDT) for the 90-minute flight to Farmingdale, N.Y., and arrived at trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn on the Belmont Park backstretch by van at about 4:30 p.m. ... more

Free Admission for Women, Bracelet Giveaway for ‘Rachel’s’ Belmont Debut
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
By Ashley Herriman

In honor of Preakness-winning filly Rachel Alexandra’s Belmont Park debut in the 53rd renewal of the Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes on Saturday, June 27, the New York Racing Association, Inc. will give away pink bracelets embossed with the filly’s name and admission for ladies will be free on Mother Goose Day. ... more

Belmont Park Notes
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
By Jenny Kellner

Rachel Alexandra Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said West Point Thoroughbreds’ multiple graded-stakes winner Justwhistledixie, second in the Grade 1 Acorn in her last start, would not be running against Rachel Alexandra in Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park. ... more

Legal Consent Scores Third Straight Win in Mike Lee Stakes
Sunday, June 21, 2009
By Jenny Kellner

Legal Consent Lansdon B. Robbins III’s Legal Consent scored his third straight victory Sunday afternoon at Belmont Park, holding off a late rally from Slevin to take the 30th running of the $105,500 Mike Lee Stakes for New York-breds ... more

Icon Project Pulls Upset in the Muddy New York Stakes
Saturday, June 20, 2009
By Jenny Kellner

Icon Project Trainer Marty Wolfson had always wanted to try Star Crown Stable’s Icon Project on the dirt, and Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park, he got his chance. With the $250,000 New York Stakes moved off the turf because of continued wet weather, the 4-year-old bay daughter of ... more

Belmont Park Notes
Friday, June 19, 2009
By Jenny Kellner

Rachel Alexandra Rachel Alexandra will make her first start since her historic Preakness victory next Saturday at Belmont Park, but her presence in the Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose isn’t scaring everyone away. Trainer Mark Hennig has the Mother Goose under serious consideration for Alan Brodsky’s Don’t Forget Gil, while Kiaran McLaughlin ... more

Rachel Alexandra To “Race For A Cure”
Friday, June 19, 2009
Contact: Caroline Shaw

Rachel Alexandra Rachel Alexandra, who last month became the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness, will “race for a cure” in the remainder of her 2009 campaign. A $20,000 donation to a breast cancer nonprofit, the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure, from the Jackson Family Fund at the Blue Grass Community Foundation, will be the inaugural contribution. ... more

Super Filly Rachel Alexandra to Run in Mother Goose
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
By Jenny Kellner

Rachel Alexandra Preakness heroine Rachel Alexandra will make her first start since winning the middle jewel of the Triple Crown on Saturday, June 27 at Belmont Park, where she will face fellow three-year-old fillies in the Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes. ... more