 |
Welcome to On The Lead, the monthly newsletter of The New York Racing Association. We will keep you tuned in to all of the ongoing excitement at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course.
In each issue, we will update you on important news and look ahead to the featured promotions, events, and stakes races for the coming month. You will read fun and enlightening interviews with our trainers and jockeys and receive the latest information about our NYRA Rewards program. And as an added bonus, you can download eye-popping wallpaper and watch thrilling race replays!
On The Lead is your one-stop communication to catch up on the action at the NYRA tracks. We hope you enjoy this issue! |
|  | |
|
 | |
 |
 NYRA has introduced a text message service that will alert fans to Pick 6 carryovers and live racing cancellations. Those interested in the service can sign up by texting the keyword NYRA to 84700 or by visiting this site and registering their cell phone. The text alerts are free to subscribe to, and message & data rates may apply depending on each individual’s service plan. For example, if someone has a cell phone plan with unlimited texting, they will not incur any charges. If someone has a plan with 100 text messages, and the text alert from NYRA is received once the 100 message limit has been reached, charges will apply per the cell phone carrier’s policies. Click here for full details.
 NYRA is hosting hour-long live, online chat sessions with key industry figures on select Friday nights at 8:00 p.m. This upcoming Friday, March 5, fans will have the chance to chat with NYRA Race Analyst Andy Serling. Fans and handicappers may log on to http://www.nyra.com/livechat to join the chat or read archived chats. Recent chats have included jockey Richard Migliore, trainer Gary Contessa, and NYRA Executive VP Hal Handel. No pre-registration is necessary and users may simply type questions and comments in the chat field at the bottom of the page for the featured chatter to address. At the conclusion of the chat, an “instant replay” is created for future reference. Click here to read more.
 NYRA is offering a $250,000 Guaranteed Late Pick 4 Saturdays at Aqueduct during the 2010 Winter/Spring Meet. On Wood Memorial Day, Saturday, April 3, NYRA will offer a $500,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 that will likely include the Grade 1 Wood Memorial, the Grade 1 Carter Handicap, The Grade 3 Bay Shore, and the Grade 3 Excelsior Handicap. Click here for more details.
 NYRA has created a new series of videos entitled “Backstretch Buzz." The series highlights jockeys and trainers as they share their thoughts on topical events, news stories and some of the current issues concerning thoroughbred racing. The first installment in the series discusses cold weather training with trainers Glenn DiSanto, Bruce Brown and David Donk while the next video debates apprentice vs. journeyman riders with trainers Rick Schosberg, Mike Hushion and Leah Gyarmati, jockey Maylan Studart and jockey agent Al Dellape. The “Backstretch Buzz” videos can be viewed by online here.
 NYRA announced the stakes schedule for Aqueduct Racetrack’s 2010 winter/spring meet, with the Grade 1, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 3 anchoring 10 graded stakes worth $2.25 million for the 81-day meet which begins on January 1. The remainder of the 2010 NYRA stakes schedule will be announced at a later date. Click here for more details.
 NYRA’s “Spotlight Series” videos offer racing fans an exclusive look at the people who work behind the scenes at Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack. The videos can be viewed online at the official Spotlight page and at NYRA’s official Youtube site. The “Spotlight Series” videos profile the individuals who work in the jockey’s room, on the backside, in the paddock, on the clockers’ stand, and in numerous other areas at the track. These are the people behind the scenes that ensure thoroughbred racing in New York can take place smoothly on a daily basis. Click here to visit the NYRA Spotlight homepage.
 Racing fans can now go behind the scenes year-round at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course with the launch of NYRA's latest on-line offering, “NY Racing Insider.” The blog is located at www.nyracinginsider.com. Consolidating and building on both the popular “Saratoga Insider” and “Belmont Insider” blogs, “NY Racing Insider” gives fans unprecedented access to the backstretch with up-close-and-personal looks at all three of NYRA’s racetracks. Click here to visit the blog.
 NYRA has launched its own photostream page on flickr.com. By logging on to www.flickr.com/photos/nyraphoto, fans can view colorful, exhilarating photos from a majority of NYRA’s premier stakes races and popular promotional events. Among the featured photographs are galleries dedicated to Belmont Stakes Day, fan-favorite Commentator, and Travers Stakes Day. Super-filly Rachel Alexandra also has a pair of galleries dedicated to her. Click here to visit the site.
 The popular daily handicapping show “Talking Horses” is available for live viewing online at www.nyra.com. Fans who are not on-track will be able to watch and listen to the show live online and get all the day’s handicapping selections from the program’s prognosticators. “Talking Horses” runs from approximately 12:05 – 12:35 on live racing days, always starting approximately an hour before first post, and is hosted by NYRA TV Analysts Jason Blewitt, Eric Donovan, and Andy Serling. Click here for more details.
 NYRA has launched a Twitter website for racing analyst Andy Serling, located at Twitter.com/andyserling. Serling, a co-host of Talking Horses and NYRA Live, is known for his bold predictions and confident demeanor. Serling’s Twitter page will feature a combination of race analysis and wagering suggestions, along with observations that he makes throughout the day while at Aqueduct. Click here to start following Andy!
 NYRA is on Facebook! The page enables users to interact with other NYRA fans, stay updated on NYRA events, view NYRA racing photos, and much more. NYRA's Facebook page already has more than 3,200 fans, so join the community now! Click here to access the NYRA Facebook page.
 Fans of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra can connect with the star 3-year-old filly on her own website, “Rachel’s Sandbox," set up by NYRA. Rachel recorded a victory for the ages when she became the first ever female winner of the prestigious Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, September 5. The multimedia site gives fans an interactive experience and allows them to keep up with the latest news and information on Rachel Alexandra as she looks to make history. Fans can view a Rachel Alexandra photo gallery, peruse career past performances and pedigree, comment on blogs and participate in a poll on the website, which also contains a “Fun Stuff” section featuring downloadable wallpaper, coloring pages, and fun facts about the fabulous filly. Fans can visit “Rachel’s Sandbox” at www.nyra.com/rachel
 Tune in to Trips & Traps, NYRA's groundbreaking online handicapping show! Join hosts Andy Serling and Eric Donovan for an insiders look at horses to watch or horses to watch out for. On this weekly show, Andy and Eric scrutinize replays of races to find horses that have a reason to perform much better in future races. You will learn how to better scrutinize replays for information that's not necessarily in the past performance charts.Trips & Traps is only available at NYRA's official Youtube site
 Aqueduct Racetrack provides an intimate and elegant setting for groups of any nature and is a particularly dramatic destination for corporate events. Enjoy superb fare, spectacular views and unparalleled service while experiencing thoroughbred racing at its finest. All options include admission, program and luncheon. Drink packages can be added on at an additional cost. Children (ages 3-12) receive a 33 percent discount! Packages and menus can also be customized to fit client needs. For more information, visit www.nyragroupsales.com or call (888) 285-5961. |
|  |
 |
 Aqueduct’s 2010 graded stakes schedule kicks off in March, highlighted by one of the most anticipated races of the year. The Gotham (G3), a 1-1/16 mile race for 3-year-olds on Saturday, March 6, always features a number of the brightest up-and-coming stars in racing. In 2008, the race was won in impressive closing fashion by Visionaire, who went on to win the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga. In 2000, Red Bullet won the Gotham en route to a campaign that included a Preakness victory.
 The Gotham card on Saturday, March 6 also features two stakes. The Toboggan (G3) for older sprinters marks the first graded sprint of the year in New York. Last year’s running was captured in dramatic fashion by the stretch running Ah Day, who came from last place to win by a head. Also featured on the March 6 card is the Fred “Cappy” Capossela, a sprint for 3-year-olds that has produced some impressive horses, including Go Go Shoot (2008) and Like Now (2006).
 On Saturday, March 13, the fastest 3-year-old fillies in the land will go postward in the Cicada (G3). Run at six furlongs, the race was won by Heart Ashley last year and in 2000, it was won by one of the best female sprinters of all time, Xtra Heat.
 New York-breds will take to the track on Saturday, March 20 for the Kings Point, run at 1-1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up. In 2006, New York legend Funny Cide won this race, and in a remarkable accomplishment, Smart Coupons won the Kings Point three consecutive years from 1998-2000.
 The final stakes in March is the Ladies Handicap for older fillies and mares going 1-1/8 miles. The honor roll of fillies that have won this race includes star fillies such as Critical Eye (2002), Summer Colony (2001), and the great Shuvee (1969). | |  |
 |
 NYRA has unveiled the “New York Watch” website, the online home for the series launched in January that shines the spotlight on promising colts and fillies that have recently cleared the maiden and allowance ranks at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, or Saratoga Race Course. Therein, fans can read details, view photos, and watch race replays of each featured horse. So far, the New York Watch series has spotlighted four horses: Eightyfiveinafifty, Tempted to Tapit, Rule by Night, and Does It Every Time. Click here to visit the site.
 As one sure sign spring is on the way, beginning Wednesday, March 3, post time for the first race at Aqueduct Racetrack will move to 1:00 p.m. The graded stakes season will get underway on Saturday, March 6, with the 59th running of the Grade 3 Gotham for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16th miles and the 117th running of the Grade 3 Toboggan for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs, followed on Saturday, March 13 by the Grade 3 Cicada for 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs. Click here for full details.
 When Stormy Shay won for the first time in eight starts at Aqueduct Racetrack on Friday, February 8, her 2¼-length victory in the maiden claiming race might have gone relatively unnoticed – except for the colors she carried into the winner’s circle. Aboard the 3-year-old filly, jockey Fernando Jara wore the same yellow-and-black silks as Stormy Shay’s famous grandsire, 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. Although Slew’s owners have run horses in New York in the interim under different stable names, owners Karen and Mickey Taylor estimated it was the first time in 25 years that the Triple Crown champion’s colors have reached the winner’s circle. Click here to read the full story.
 If you wanted to describe a superhero such as Batman or Superman in the simplest possible way, you might say they were normal, unassuming people in their regular lives, but their alter-egos were something completely different and unexpected. Rodney Paine doesn’t own a cave or change in a telephone booth, but he does go through an impressive transformation on a typical day. An exercise rider and jockey valet at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course, the 40-year-old native of Australia works a normal (in a racetrack sense) schedule, rising before dawn to exercise horses and then spending long afternoons in the jockey’s room. Somehow, though, Paine finds time to ease the cravings of his secret identity – the long-distance running specialist. Click here to read this amazing story.
 New York’s leading rider Ramon Dominguez won the first five races on Wednesday, February 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack, marking what he believes is the first time he has ever won five races in a row on a single card at any track. Dominguez kicked off the streak aboard Chevalier Stable’s Thunder Reigns ($10.40), followed by Lee Lewis’ Framed ($5.00); Edward Evans’ Elusive Gift ($3.60); Michael Martin’s Simmy ($5.80); and Mike Hushion’s Wicked Diva ($3.90). Click here to read details and watch his victories!
 There was a sure thing on Wednesday, February 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack, and everyone knew it. A gray (or roan) horse was going to win the first race. No question about it. Of course, even a novice handicapper could have figured that out, considering the conditions of the race. Named for a horse called Arromanches, it required entrants to be gray or roan, and indeed, the seven starters who ranged in age from 4 to 9, were all various shades of gray. Click here for full details and to watch the race replay.
 The fifth installment of NYRA's “Spotlight Series” is now available at the series homepage and profiles NYRA Clockers Jimmy McKnight, Peter Gulemas and Chris O’Connor as well as Gap Identifier Wendy Smith. The video brings fans into the clockers’ booth and onto the backstretch to view the process of correctly identifying and timing every horse on a morning’s work tab. Click here to watch the video.
 Jockeys riding at Aqueduct Racetrack are joining the relief effort to help those affected by the recent earthquake that struck Haiti. Riders at Aqueduct had the option to donate losing mount fees and/or a percentage of their earnings from races during the week span of Saturday, January 15 – Friday, January 22 to the American Red Cross toward the Haitian Relief effort. In addition, NYRA also donated $5,000 to the American Red Cross. Click here for full details.
 NYRA recently announced two promotions in its finance department. Jelena Alonso was promoted to corporate controller and Ross Didia was promoted to corporate treasurer. “We are very happy to announce these well deserved promotions,” said NYRA Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Ellen McClain. “Jelena and Ross will continue to help support the organization's strategy, financial goals, and policies, consistent with best practices in financial management.” Click here to read more.
 The last day of 2009 found Ramon Dominguez in the same place as the first – atop the jockey standings and in the winner’s circle at Aqueduct Racetrack. New York’s leading rider wrapped up his record-breaking year on NYRA circuit by piloting a pair of winners to finish with 376 victories, 152 more than runner-up Rajiv Maragh. Dominguez, 32, won the 2009 riding titles at all three NYRA tracks – Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course – and his 376 winners were second only to Steve Cauthen’s 433 wins in 1977. Gary Contessa won the training title for the 4th straight year and Repole Stables won the owner title. Click here for the full story.
 NYRA has launched a brand new Community Relations website! This site will stay updated with all of the great events that NYRA is organizing and taking part in with the communities surrounding their racetracks. Some of the recent organizations and events that NYRA helped out with were Elmont Clean Up Day, the Exceller Fund, and the Gateway Youth Outreach. Bookmark the NYRA Community Relations website to keep informed of all these important events.
NYRA keeps fans abreast of racing information at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga with its official Twitter site, located at Twitter.com/NYRAnews. The site is updated throughout the day with scratches and changes, news and notes, interesting events, and a host of other information. Click here to follow the site! |
|  |
 |
 Each month we’ll take a trip to the backstretch and visit with a different jockey or trainer. This month the spotlight is on jockey Jorge Chavez, who has been riding on the NYRA circuit for 20 years, winning six consecutive New York riding titles from 1994-1999.
Born in Callao, Peru, Chavez didn’t start riding until he was 20 years old, when a friend took him to the races for the first time. He rode his first winner, a horse called Marst, the following year in 1982, and has been riding in the United States since 1988. After dominating the Florida circuit during his first two years in this country, Chavez came to New York in 1990 looking for new challenges and has been riding here ever since.
In a career with many highlights, 1999 stands out. It was the year in which Chavez won two Breeders’ Cup races (the Sprint, aboard 1999 Eclipse Champion Sprinter Artax, and the Distaff, aboard 1999 Champion Older Female Beautiful Pleasure), and the year in which he won his own Eclipse Award as Top Jockey. Two years later, Chavez won the 2001 Kentucky Derby aboard Monarchos, who passed through New York en route to Louisville, finishing second in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
Now in his 20th year in New York and still going strong, Chavez reflected on some of the high points in his career so far.
Q: Tell me about how you got started riding in Peru.
Chavez: At that time I was working on the bus, I was the ticket guy. My friend said to me, “How would you like to be a jockey?” I said “Oh, I don’t know.” and he said “One day I’m going to take you to the racetrack and maybe you’ll like it.” I’d never been before. So when I went to the racetrack and started watching, I saw all the jockeys and said, “Oh, these guys are small. I can be one of these guys!” That’s how I started. Then he introduced me to some trainers, and the trainers told me “You need papers and permission from your parents or family, whatever you have. Then we’ll try and teach you.”
Q: You were young when you started, but today you often see riders starting out in their teens. Do you think it’s advantageous to begin riding at a young age?
Chavez: Younger is better. That’s what I think, so you have time to learn. This business is not easy and there’s a lot to learn. When you’re younger, people can help you and teach you. It’s better to start younger because then by twenty, you’ve learned to be professional.
Q: How difficult was it for you to get your start?
Chavez: It went so fast for me and it was very easy. Everything I was doing was going my way, everything. I was twenty years old and everything I did was right – even sometimes when it wasn’t, it still worked out the right way!
I was very lucky to start and do well right away. In so many years on the racetrack, I’ve seen that people usually struggle a little bit at the start, before they start winning. For me, it was so fast. I was very lucky in that.
Q: I understand that you ended up coming to ride in America almost by accident? You came for a vacation in 1988 and ended up staying? Tell me that story.
Chavez: I came to Miami for vacation and a friend of mine – I was staying in his house – he loved horses. I think one of his friends told him to make me ride over here. I told him “I don’t want to ride. I just came for vacation; I’m here to have a good time.” They just kept pushing me though, and after three or four days I said “Why not? Let me try.” My friend’s friend, he arranged the whole thing – I just had a visa for vacation, not a working visa - and he said don’t worry, we’ll take care of that. And he took care of the whole thing; he got me papers and everything. | |  |
 |
 Did you know that NYRA Rewards offers the highest rebates in the industry? And it's not even close! NYRA Rewards offers rebates that are more than eight times as much as some of the other ADW platforms. Click here to see how the NYRA Rewards rebate program stacks up.
 NYRA has introduced a minus pool alert to its NYRA Rewards Internet Wagering platform. The alert will only be displayed for races at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course. The minus pool alert is triggered when the wagering on a NYRA race is such that a potential minus pool situation exists. The alert will appear at the top of the race program page. Click here for more information.
NYRA Rewards is now offering almost live Instant Replays! They will be available a few minutes after the race has been declared official. There will be an icon linking to an Instant Replay landing page that can be found on the Track Menu and Aqueduct Program pages of the Internet Wagering application.
With no minimum balance, no wagering fees, express funding, and cash back rewards, now is the time to sign up and start enjoying racing’s finest wagering platform offering unparalleled privileges! Click here to sign up for a new account. |
|  |
 |
 This month's wallpaper and race replay features a horse that may have finally made the jump from a very good horse to a great one. Rereadthefootnotes won his first stakes race in last month's Hollie Hughes, a six furlong affair for New York-bred older horses. With leading jockey Ramon Dominguez aboard, the 4-year-old son of Read the Footnotes broke sharply from the gate, went right to the lead, and widened hroughout the stretch to win by an impressive 3-1/2 lengths. Trainer by Michael Hushion and owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Rereadthefootnotes broke his maiden at first asking during the 2008 Saratoga meet, showing glimpses of his tremendous potential. Click here to watch the race replay and download the wallpaper.
 For this month's podcast we were lucky to catch up with Doris Glier, affectionately known as "Nurse Doris" at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga. Nurse Doris, 84, has been working at the NYRA tracks for 50 years! She is one of the most popular figures at the track, and does a terrific job of taking care of jockeys, trainers, horsemen, employees, patrons, and anyone else that might be in need of medical assistance. We talked with her about how she got started at the track, some of the things that she enjoys the most about her job, and numerous other topics. Click here to listen to the podcast. | |  |
| |
|
