NYRA Re-organization Board hears update on Saratoga meet, NYRA successes

by Pat McKenna

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) Reorganization Board of Directors, meeting in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.  today, discussed progress in the three areas where NYRA has concentrated its efforts since the formation of the re-organization board -- enhancing the guest experience, improving the quality of racing and securing a strong financial foundation including the development of new revenue streams. 

The Board heard a report from CEO and President Christopher Kay, who provided an update on the current Saratoga meet. Kay said that total handle at the current Saratoga meet is up 1.45 percent over the record-setting 2015 Saratoga meet. Attendance at Saratoga is up 1.2 percent over 2015.  

Additionally, Kay provided an overall update on the successful improvements that have transformed NYRA into a stronger, more financially sound organization, with improved racing operations, increased product offerings - - including NYRA Bets and Saratoga LIVE - - and an improvement in the guest experience at all its tracks. 

In July, NYRA announced the creation of a new advanced deposit wagering platform called NYRA Bets. NYRA Bets provides the most advanced technology within a state-of-the art wagering interface. Kay further emphasized that the creation of NYRA Bets reflects NYRA's commitment to continuously improving and expanding NYRA's digital footprint nationally to provide horseplayers with the most advanced technology available. This strategy, Kay said, matches the current trends of the American public, a strategy that is predicated on the utilization of high-definition quality video streaming on a person's smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop and/or television.  

The board received reports from senior executives at NYRA directly responsible for implementing changes in those three critical areas. 

Senior Vice-President and Chief Experience Officer Lynn LaRocca addressed the steps NYRA has taken to improve the guest experience, including:

• Capital improvements to the clubhouse and grandstand;
• Developing and expanding the Season Perks program working with the community, and
• The launch of the NYRA Bets Lounge, a new wagering area for novice and adept players.

Martin Panza, Senior Vice President of Racing Operations, discussed the measures taken to improve the quality of racing, including:

• The significant improvement in NYRA's two year old racing program, and 
• The successful growth in handle for the Saturday race cards at Saratoga. 

David O'Rourke, Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, addressed the ongoing strengthening of the financial foundation at NYRA. O'Rourke noted that NYRA has:

• Successfully launched NYRA Bets in many states across the country with additional states to join in the coming weeks and months; 
• Increased its presence in the national marketplace in both its enhanced national wagering platform (NYRA Bets) and through a greatly expanded television strategy with Fox Sports, MSG and Altitude Sports, in addition to NYRA's on-going relationship with NBC Sports, and
• Will be launching a new HD app coming later this year.

Tony Allevato, President of NYRA Bets, and Executive Producer of NYRA TV, also addressed NYRA's new programming and national reach of our signature Live shows. Allevato noted that NYRA: 

• Aggressively embraces high definition video streaming;
• Continues to integrate emerging technology that fans of other major sports have become accustomed to, but had previously been missing from horse racing coverage, and
• Increased exponentially the total hours of NYRA coverage on national television from 2015 to 2016, a total of 97 hours.