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Abbreviation | NYRA |
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Founded | April 28, 1955 [1] |
Founders | John Wesley Hanes II, Christopher Chenery, Harry F. Guggenheim [1] |
Purpose | Thoroughbred horse racing |
Location | |
Marc Holliday [2] | |
David O'Rourke [2] | |
Website | nyra.com |
Formerly called | The Greater New York Association [1] |
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) is the not-for-profit corporation that operates the three largest thoroughbred horse racing tracks in the state of New York, United States: Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens; Belmont Park in Elmont; and Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs.
Racing at NYRA tracks is year-round, operating at Belmont Park from May to mid-July and from September through October; at Saratoga Race Course from mid-July through Labor Day; and at Aqueduct from November through April.
The New York Racing Association is the successor to the Greater New York Association, a non-profit racing association created in 1955. NYRA is separate from the governing body that oversees racing in New York, currently the New York State Gaming Commission.
In 1913, racing returned to New York after a hiatus due to the Hart–Agnew Law. Only four tracks had survived the hiatus. These were Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, Jamaica Racetrack and Saratoga Race Course. The tracks came under common ownership with the creation of a non-profit association known as the Greater New York Association in 1955. [3]
The association remodeled Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course and demolished Jamaica, which is now the Rochdale Village housing development. The partnership became the New York Racing Association on April 10, 1958. Later, Belmont Park was closed from 1963 to 1968 in order to construct a new grandstand.
Off-track betting in New York was established in 1970, being offered by regional, government-owned corporations. OTB parlors began showing live video feeds of races, referred to as simulcasting, in 1984. [4] [5] In 1995, NYRA launched a cable television channel and a telephone advance-deposit wagering service.
From December 2003 through September 2005, NYRA operated under a deferred prosecution agreement following a 2003 federal indictment. The charges related alleged income tax evasion and money laundering by mutuel clerks between 1980 and 1999 with the knowledge of NYRA middle managers. Under the agreement, NYRA paid $3 million to the government and its implementation of new cash-handling procedures designed to eliminate corruption and mismanagement was monitored by a New York law firm. After receiving a report from the monitor which concluded that NYRA was in compliance with the new guidelines, the Justice Department moved to dismiss the indictment and its motion was allowed by a federal judge.
NYRA, claiming that the state lottery division's failure to approve the installation of video-lottery terminal (VLT) machines at Aqueduct Racetrack pushed it to insolvency, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on November 2, 2006. [6] The association emerged from bankruptcy protection September 12, 2008 with incorporation of a successor corporation, New York Racing Association Inc. [7] New York City's OTB Corporation shut down permanently in 2010.
In 2016, NYRA launched an online advance-deposit wagering platform under the brand NYRA Bets, which offers live bets and live simulcasts, and is available on multiple states. [8]
NYRA was reorganized and its franchise to operate the three racetracks was extended through 2033 under legislation approved by the New York state legislature on February 13, 2008. The new authorization provided $105 million in direct state aid and forgave millions more in state loans to NYRA. The association also gave up its claim to ownership of the land on which the three racetracks are situated. In return, the state gained expanded oversight responsibility. The state comptroller won the power to audit NYRA's books. The conversion of NYRA from a non-profit association to a not-for-profit corporation also gave the state attorney general enhanced oversight authority. In addition, the state now appoints 11 of the corporation's 25 directors. By changing from non-profit to not-for-profit status, NYRA also gained flexibility in its financial management.
NYRA maintains its own law enforcement force of more than 300 sworn employees, including plainclothed investigators, inspectors, and fire marshals, all of whom are New York State Peace Officers. [15] These officers must be licensed with the state Gaming Commission and meet requirements set forth by the Division of Criminal Justice Services.
NYRA peace officers may make arrests and issue summonses on NYRA property only. They carry weapons such as a baton, pepper spray, and handcuffs. Some carry a firearm. They wear eagle-top shields, typically gold in color. Uniformed members wear navy-blue uniforms with gold on white NYRA patches on their left side and an American flag patch on the right side. NYRA inspectors wear the shields but no further uniforms.
After training in an in-house academy, NYRA Peace Officers are assigned to the Patrol or Backstretch divisions. Patrol officers are the everyday face of the department to the general public, conducting patrols and enforcing the law during meets and events at all three NYRA facilities. Backstretch officers conduct patrols and enforce the law in the backstretch areas such as the on-property residences of NYRA staff and some riders. Each division's officers are covered by its own union representation derived from two separate union organizations.
NYRA Sergeants and lower-ranking Peace Officers are paid hourly rates. Investigators, lieutenants, and higher-ranking members receive annual salaries.
NYRA also seasonally employs New York State-licensed security officers at Saratoga Racecourse during its racing meets and subcontracts private security guard companies to help at the Belmont Stakes and other events downstate. NYRA Security Officers wear light blue or white shirts with security patches on both arms. Contractors wear their security company's patches and logos while working. Neither has power beyond that of a normal citizen's rights under New York state law's citizen's arrest procedures as well as report to assist and make arrests on the orders of a sworn NYRA peace officer.
^ †: Uniformed rank that has no authority to carry any weapons or firearms