2020 Media Guide NYRA.com 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS HISTORY 3 General Information 4 History of The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) 5 NYRA Leadership 6 Belmont Park History 7 Belmont Park Specifications & Map 8 Saratoga Race Course History 9 Saratoga Leading Jockeys and Trainers TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE 10 Saratoga Race Course Specifications & Map 11 Aqueduct Racetrack History 12 Aqueduct Racetrack Specifications & Map 13 NYRA Bets 14 Digital NYRA 15-16 NYRA Personalities & NYRA en Español 17 NYRA & Community/Cares 18 NYRA & Safety 19 Handle & Attendance Page OWNERS 20-43 Owner Profiles 44 2019 Leading Owners TRAINERS 45-93 Trainer Profiles 94 Leading Trainers in New York 1935-2019 95 2019 Trainer Standings JOCKEYS 96-116 Jockey Profiles 117 Jockeys that have won six or more races in one day 117 Leading Jockeys in New York (1941-2019) 118 2019 NYRA Leading Jockeys BELMONT STAKES 119 History of the Belmont Stakes 128 Belmont Runners 138 Belmont Owners 147 Belmont Trainers 153 Belmont Jockeys 159 Triple Crown Profiles TRAVERS STAKES 172 History of the Travers Stakes 184 Travers Owners 188 Travers Trainers 191 Travers Jockeys 201 Remem bering Mary Lou Whitney 204 The Whitney 2 2020 Media Guide NYRA.com AQUEDUCT RACETRACK 110-00 Rockaway Blvd. South Ozone Park, NY 11420 2020 Racing Dates Winter/Spring: January 1 - April 19 BELMONT PARK 2150 Hempstead Turnpike Elmont, NY, 11003 2020 Racing Dates Spring/Summer: April 24 - July 12 GENERAL INFORMATION GENERAL SARATOGA RACE COURSE 267 Union Ave. Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866 2020 Racing Dates Summer: July 16 - September 7 Contact Us: Press Office: (718) 659-2244 [email protected] Customer Service: (718) 641-4700 Box Office: (844) NYRA-TIX Horseman’s Relations: (718) 659-2205 Track Photographer: (718) 659-2292 Racing Office: Inside New York: (800) 221-6266 Outside New York: (800) 221-6267 @TheNYRA www.nyra.com For explanations of stewards’ decisions please visit Stewards’ Corner at NYRA.com GENERAL INFORMATION GENERAL 2020 Media Guide NYRA.com 3 HISTORY OF NYRA HISTORY Created more than 60 years ago so that New York State could share in the boom in racing that followed World War II, The New York Racing Association, Inc., (NYRA) holds the exclusive right to conduct racing at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of New York State’s thoroughbred industry, which is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact to New York State. Over the course of 217 days of live racing in 2019, NYRA generated more than $2.1 billion in all-sources wagering handle with paid attendance exceeding 1.7 million for the fifth consecutive year. In 2019, Saratoga continued to shine with all sources handle generating more than $700 million ($705,343,949) for the first time in history during the 39-day meet at historic Saratoga Race Course. NYRA was formed in 1955, when the Greater New York Association acquired the assets of the four racing associations operating Belmont, Jamaica, Saratoga and Aqueduct racetracks. Within four years, the NYRA had demolished the old Aqueduct and in 1959 opened the modern Aqueduct Racetrack. Jamaica Race Track was closed the same year. From 1963 through 1968, Belmont Park was shuttered while a new grandstand was built. A HISTORY OF A HISTORY ASSOCIATION RACING THE NEW YORK 4 2020 Media Guide NYRA.com NYRA Officers & Senior Executives, Other Officers & Operating Officials OFFICERS AND SENIOR EXECUTIVES: David O’ Rourke, CEO and President Joe Lambert, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer Gordon Lavalette, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Glen Kozak, Senior Vice President, Facilities & Racing Surfaces Tony Allevato, Chief Revenue Officer, President NYRA Bets Martin Panza, Senior Vice President, Racing Operations Harshal Kadakia, Vice President, Chief Information Officer Don Scott, Vice President, Marketing LEADERSHIP NYRA Tatiana Torres, Vice President, Human Resources Renee Postel, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer OTHER OFFICERS AND OPERATING OFFICIALS RACING OFFICIALS John Clyne, Senior Director, Security Keith Doleshel, Racing Secretary, Aqueduct Racetrack John Imbriale, Race Caller Patrick J. Pope, Racing Secretary, Belmont Park James Dillon, Director , Race Day Operations Robert Driscoll, Assistant Racing Secretary Eric Donovan, Director of TV & Broadcast Operations Andrew Byrnes, Stakes Coordinator Matthew Feig, Senior Director, NYRA Bets Michael McMullen, Starter Rocco Fuda, Director, Pari-Mutuel Operations Dr. Anthony Verderosa, Director, NYRA Veterinarians Min Kim, Director, Internal Audit Dr. Sarah Hinchliffe , Senior Examining Veterinarian* Joe Longo, Director, Simulcast Sal Russo Clerk of Scales* Patrick McKenna, Director, Communications & Public Affairs Peter FitzGerald, Paddock & Patrol Judge Kevin Quinn, Senior Director, Sales Kelly Gecewicz, Clerk of the Course Ron Silvers, Director, Procurement Sentell “Sonny” Taylor, Jr., Placing/Patrol Judge Denise Spampinato, Horsemen’s Bookkeeper Diane Connor, Chief Horse Identifier STEWARDS Rick Wickman, Stable Supervisor Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, The Jockey Club* Braulio Baeza, Jr., New York State Gaming Commision* Brook Hawkins, NYRA Steward* Hugh J. Gallagher, NYRA Safety Steward* Timothy Kelly, NYRA Safety Steward Juan Dominguez, NYRA Safety Steward NYRA LEADERSHIP NYRA * fully accredited NEW YORK STATE GAMING COMMISSION Barry Sample, Chair John Crotty, Commissioner Peter Moschetti, Jr., Commissioner John Poklemba, Commissioner Jerry Skurnik, Commissioner Todd Snyder, Commissioner Robert Williams, Acting Executive Director Ronald Ochrym, Director of Racing Edmund Burns, General Counsel Dr. Scott Palmer, Equine Medical Director NYRA is a member of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations and complies with its Code of Standards and By-Laws. NYRA is licensed by the New York State Gaming Commission and operates under its Rules and Regulations. 2020 Media Guide NYRA.com 5 BELMONT PARK Just 13 horses in racing’s illustrious penultimate day. The festival features history have swept across the the continuation of the Turf Triple For more than a century, Belmont finish line at the Belmont Stakes to Series, implemented in 2019, that has been the stage for many of complete the Triple Crown, with offers a pair of Grade 1s, with the $1 racing’s greatest legends. In 1902, the last two of those baker’s dozen million Belmont Derby Invitational when a syndicate headed by August coming in the last five years with and the $750,000 Belmont Oaks Belmont II and former Secretary of American Pharoah (2015) and Justify Invitational on July 11. the Navy William C. Whitney sought (2018) adding to their respective land on Long Island to build the earlier victories in the Kentucky The Turf Triple for sophomore males most elaborate track in America, one Derby and Preakness before securing is comprised of the Belmont Derby modeled after the great racecourses their legacies at Belmont Park in the Invitational, the $1 million Saratoga of Europe. They found what they “Test of the Champion.” Derby [August 9], and concludes at were looking for on the border of Belmont Park with the $1 million Queens County and Nassau County. But the Belmont Stakes has seen Jockey Club Derby on September 12, Originally known as Foster’s Meadow, more than just future Hall of Famers offering a ‘Win and You’re In’ berth the 650 acres of land included a and favorites earn trips to the to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf. turreted Tudor Gothic mansion winner’s circle. Unexpected efforts, owned by William de Forest Manice, like 10-1 selection Sir Winston in The Turf Triple for 3-year-old which was to serve as the track’s Turf 2019, have secured their place in fillies includes the Belmont Oaks and Field Club until 1956. history by winning the 1 ½-mile final Invitational, the $750,000 Saratoga jewel of the Triple Crown series, Oaks [August 7], and returns to The grand opening of Belmont Park which will again anchor the three- Belmont Park for the $750,000 Jockey on May 4, 1905, attracted more than BELMONT PARK day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Club Oaks [September 12]. 40,000 fans who witnessed August in 2020. The 152nd edition of the Belmont II’s Blandy, at 7-1, hold Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes This year also sees five graded stakes off 100-1 shot Oliver Cromwell in will highlight the mega event from on May 9, including four graded the$1,500 Belmont Inaugural. June 4-6, which features 17 stakes events, led by the Grade 1, $700,000 races, including eight Grade 1s. Man o’ War at 1 3/8-miles on the Closed in 1963 due to structural turf for 4-year-olds and upward. defects, Belmont Park was rebuilt Along with the Belmont Stakes and re-opened in 1968. Since 2012, Racing Festival, other premium The 2020 spring/summer meet at numerous improvements have been events include the seventh edition of Belmont will run from April 24 made to enhance the guest experience the Stars & Stripes Racing Festival, through July 12, with racing occurring while preserving its historic which will be contested over three as construction continues on the architectural elements, including days beginning Saturday, July 4 and 43 acres on the grounds, with work HD television monitors throughout, concluding on Monday, July 7, when ongoing on a new 18,000 arena that Trakus technology and enhancing five graded stakes will be offered on will be home to the National Hockey the Belmont Cafe and the Top of the the Belmont spring/summer meet’s League’s New York Islanders. Stretch picnic area. 6 2020 Media Guide NYRA.com BELMONT PARK AQUEDUCT TRACK SPECIFICATIONS BELMONT PARK TRACK SPECIFICATIONS Main Track BASIC PHYSICAL DATA OF 4 ¼ “- 4 ¾“ Sandy Loam Cushion Main Track BELMONT PARKMain Track 10“ Clay/Silt/Sand Base 4 ¼ “- 4 ¾“ Sandy Loam Cushion 4 ¼ “- 4 ¾“ Sandy Loam Cushion GROUNDS Sand DrainageMain Course Track .