Francesca LeDonne Photo

Starter Loyalty Program buoyed by Broadway trifecta

by NYRA Press Office

A Starter Loyalty Program trifecta in the $100,000 Broadway highlighted a week that saw an impressive 15 winners emerge from the New York Racing Association's (NYRA) innovative Starter Loyalty Program during the week of racing from February 15-18 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

David Donk and Jeremiah Englehart each trained a pair of Starter Loyalty Program winners last week led by scores from Never Nevermore and Parlapiano on President's Day for Donk and victories from Dirty Bird (Feb. 15) and Elegant Jem (Feb. 18) for Englehart.

Implemented on April 2, 2018, the Starter Loyalty Program provides Silver- through Diamond-level purse bonuses between 5 and 15 percent on money earned in a qualifying race, based on their number of starts at NYRA tracks through April 1, 2019.

Last week, 15 winning horses from four days of racing [encompassing 34 total races at the Big A] were members of the Starter Loyalty Program. Donk and Englehart joined single-race winning trainers Rob Atras, H.James Bond, Philip Serpe, Alejandro Maymo, Edward Barker, Leah Gyarmati, Carlos Martin, Linda Rice, Rudy Rodriguez, Michelle Nevin and Jason Servis.

In the Broadway, Holiday Disguise made a triumphant return for trainer Linda Rice and owner Lady Sheila Stable. Sent to post at odds of 9-2, the 5-year-old daughter of Harlan's Holiday keyed a unique trifecta while boosting her career earnings to $554,875 with her purse share winnings of $59,125, including a NYRA Starter Loyalty Gold member bonus.

With Gold members Pauseforthecause and Palladian Bridge filling out the trifecta, the Broadway proved to be a lucrative event for NYRA Starter Loyalty Program participants.

A day later, Honor Up, a Gold member trained by Michelle Nevin for Saratoga Seven Partners, picked up a $4,125 bonus while winning the $100,000 Haynesfield.

For more information on the Starter Loyalty Program, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/horsemen/2018-19-starter-loyalty-program

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NYRA 2018-19 Loyalty Program, at a glance:
From the period between April 2, 2018 through April 1, 2019

• NYRA Silver: Starts 5 and 6
  
  • Runners will compete for 5% more purse money
• NYRA Gold: Starts 7, 8, and 9
  
  • Runners will compete for 7.5% more purse money
• NYRA Platinum: Starts 10 and 11
  
  • Runners will compete for 12.5% more purse money
• NYRA Diamond: Starts 12 and higher
  
  • Runners will compete for 15% more purse money

For example, for $100,000 stakes races this winter at Aqueduct, a NYRA Silver member could receive an additional $2,750 on top of the $55,000 winner's share of the purse. For a stakes at the same level, a NYRA Platinum member could earn an additional $6,875 above the $55,000 winner's share.

The number of starts transfer with horses that are claimed or have undergone ownership changes.

Qualifying starts for bonus money include any winners' races. Maiden races do not award purse bonuses but are counted as starts. For example, if a horse breaks his maiden on his fifth start of the season, his sixth start will be in a winners' race and therefore he would be considered a Silver member.

Races not counted as a qualifying start include any race in which a horse is beaten by 25 lengths or more, or any race in which a horse is placed on the vet's list for lameness or unsoundness. The horse must be declared an official starter to get credit for the start. Only two starts in a 30-day period are counted toward the program. The third start during that period of time is not eligible for program participation. Additionally, award money is not paid on breeders' purse supplements.