2018-19 STARTER LOYALTY PROGRAM

LUCRATIVE PURSE STRUCTURE

Did you know that the average NYRA purse is $76,445? Purses average more than $650,000 per day at NYRA racetracks!   

Looking to race in New York this winter? The winner’s purse for maiden special weight races at Aqueduct is 33% to 210% higher than these winter racing venues:

AQUEDUCT: $36,000

Parx: $27,000

Gulfstream Park: $25,800

Fair Grounds: $24,600

Laurel: $22,800

Tampa Bay Downs: $11,600 

During the Aqueduct winter meet, Dec. 9, 2018 through Mar. 31, 2019, owners receive a minimum of $300 for runners finishing 4th through last, and trainers receive $300 for all runners finishing 4th through last. The Per-Start Credit offsets the cost of NYJICF workers’ comp payments – shippers pay just $215 per start for a maximum of $1,505; initial payment for horsemen based in New York is $1,500, and will be paid off in five starts. 

The New York Racing Association awards bonus purse money to owners and trainers for any horse making multiple starts as listed below at NYRA tracks. Loyalty should be rewarded and we appreciate the ongoing support of our horsemen. 

2018-19 Loyalty Program will start Monday, April 2, 2018 and run through Monday, April 1, 2019

NYRA Silver - Starts 5 & 6 (at NYRA Tracks) 

• Silver members will run for 5% more purse money.

NYRA Gold – Starts 7, 8 & 9 (at NYRA Tracks)

• Gold members will run for 7.5% more purse money.

NYRA Platinum – Starts 10 &11 (at NYRA Tracks)

• Platinum members will run for 12.5% more purse money.

NYRA Diamond – Starts 12 and higher (at NYRA Tracks)

• Diamond Members will run for 15% more purse money.

REWARDING NEW YORK-BRED OWNERS INCENTIVE PROGRAM AWARDS

New York-breds who finish first, second or third while competing in open company races at NYRA tracks earn their owners a bonus of 20% (New York-sired) or 10% (non-New York sired), up to $20,000 per award.

UNDER 20'S CLAIMING CHALLENGE

The Under 20's Claiming Challenge is returning for the Winter Meet at Aqueduct, December 7, 2018 through March 31, 2019. This exciting new program is open to trainers with 20 or fewer horses. Those trainers were required to submit a list of horses who would be eligible to accrue points in the contest. Only claimed horses could be deleted or added to that list. Points are awarded on those horses' performances in claiming races or when they ran in an optional claimer with a claiming tag. In dirt races, a win is worth six points, with second netting five points, a third four points, fourth three points and fifth two points. 

For eight trainers with small stables of 20 or fewer horses, participating in claiming races at the Belmont Park spring/summer meet proved to be doubly rewarding. Besides collecting purse revenue from their horses' starts, the eight horsemen divided $80,000 in prize money as the top finishers in the New York Racing Association's first Under 20's Claiming Challenge.

PROGRAMS FOR BACKSTRETCH EMPLOYEES

Backstretch workers have access to a host of NYTHA-sponsored programs, all free of charge, including the health clinic, dental and eye care programs, and substance abuse counseling from B.E.S.T.; a robust recreation program and spiritual guidance provided by RTCA-NY; English as a Second Language classes and a computer lab offered by the Backstretch Education Fund; state-of-the-art day care and afterschool programs from the Belmont Child Care Association; and the NYTHA college scholarship program for workers and their immediate families.

THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT PROGRAM

TAKE THE LEAD, sponsored by the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, helps owners and trainers stabled at Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga to finds placements with TAA-accredited facilities for the horses retiring from the NYRA tracks.

YEAR-ROUND RACING CALENDAR

No need to travel from track to track, horsemen can base year-round at Belmont Park, providing stability for their families and their employees.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Andrew M Byrnes NYRA, Stakes Coordinator | [email protected] | (718) 659-4217

The New York Racing Association, Inc.
Aqueduct - South Ozone Park, NY • Belmont Park - Elmont, NY • Saratoga Race Course - Saratoga Springs, NY
Christopher Kay, CEO and President - Martin Panza, SVP of Racing Operations