NEWS
NYRA cuts more than $2-million
from Belmont, Aqueduct stakes
Posted: Monday, July 26, 2010 6:57 PM
The New York Racing Association remained in reduction mode in cutting the purses for 12 races and shelving nine others from its stakes schedule for the Belmont Park and Aqueduct fall meets.
Stakes purses for the two meets will total $8,740,000, down from more than $11.3-million in 2009. NYRA cut $1.4-million from its stakes program for the Belmont spring and summer and Saratoga Race Course meets earlier this year.
“Our fall stakes programs rank among the tops in the industry and we are looking forward to great racing at Belmont Park and Aqueduct,” NYRA President Charles Hayward said. “The changes that we made to the meets are a reflection of the current economic climate and the nationwide reductions in the horse population.”
Belmont’s Matron Stakes (G2), Futurity Stakes (G2), and Jerome Handicap (G2) have been placed on hiatus this year, along with the Lonesome Glory Steeplechase Stakes, and the Joseph A. Gimma Stakes and Bertram F. Bongard Stakes for New York-breds.
NYRA cut purses for Belmont’s Beldame Stakes (G1), Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1), Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (G1), Empire Classic Stakes, Vosburgh Stakes (G1), Champagne Stakes (G1), Frizette Stakes (G1), Garden City Stakes (G1), and the Mohawk Stakes and Ticonderoga Stakes for New York-breds. The Beldame took the biggest hit, dropping from $600,000 to $350,000.
In 37 dates, Belmont will offer 29 stakes for a total of $6.1-million, down from 34 stakes for $8.1-million in 2009. The Kelso Stakes (G2) on October 3 has been changed from turf to dirt.
Aqueduct loses the New York Stallion Series Cormorant and Perfect Divisions and the Stuyvesant Stakes (G3). The Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) and Gazelle Stakes (G1) both were reduced by $50,000 to $250,000.
Aqueduct’s 36-day schedule through December 31 includes 22 stakes for a total of $2,640,000, down from 27 stakes for $3,240,000 in 2009.
To view the stakes schedule, click here.
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Arnold, Wilmington, DE on July 28, 2010 at 03:33 PM
Should NYRA make it through the current mess, the first thing that should be done upon a successful implmentation (Lord willing) of VLTs at AQ is to shut down winter racing. Clearly, NYRA should be planning on shutting down AQ in the winter ASAP. Indeed, all winter racing in northern climes should be shut down since almost all tracks now are Racinos. The case for what is being passed off as 'racing' at these locations is long gone.
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Posted by: Michael, Elmont, NY on July 28, 2010 at 10:28 AM
To Brock "Most bills are high due to the general poor business skills of many owners in the game". That has to be one of the most foolish things ever said. No, Brock, bills or fees are not set by the owners. As in any business, fees or charges are set by the individual performing the service, for example, the vet. If these individuals charge their customers so much that the customer goes out of business, then they lose a customer forever. If this keeps going on
then the vet goes out of business. As in any business, when times are tough everyone needs to decrease their fees. The horse business is no different. Although I am not a horse owner, I play the races daily, and I will tell you that racing cannot survive without the small owners. I am tired of short fields.
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Posted by: Gary, Miami, FL on July 28, 2010 at 09:28 AM
Brock you totally missed Peter's point. If everyone "stays away" as you suggest, there will be no horseracing. Open your eyes and look around. There already is a shortage of horses which leads to smaller fields which leads to decreased handle which leads to smaller purses which leads to.....I am sure you get it. Just yesterday NYRA cut Belmont's fall purses. We all need to wake up to what is happening.
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Posted by: Brock, High Point, NC on July 27, 2010 at 06:09 PM
Peter there are numerous owners in the game that never pay there bills. Most bills are high due to the general poor business skills of many owners in the game. It is called living above your means. If you cannot afford a racehorse as a sole owner than get into a partnership. Do not cry that you cannot pay bills. People have a profession to uphold not to decrease their take due to the general lack of competent leadership or sub par business skills that seem to abound in the game. Refer back to living above your means. Everyone would like to own racehorses or for that matter private jets but if it not within your pay scale then please stay away and stop crying.
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Posted by: Ron Turcotte, Van Buren,, ME on July 27, 2010 at 04:51 PM
I can't see placing such an important stake as the Futurity Stakes on hietus for even one year,my God this race has been run and won by the gratest horses in America for as long races as been run in New York.
Ron
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