SARATOGA SPRINGS — Eugene Anthony Stanczyk, a long-time resident of Saratoga Springs, NY, died peacefully in his home, surrounded by his loved ones, on May 21, 2020. Services were private. Memorial donations to Saratoga Community Hospice or Vermont Public Radio at 365 Troy Avenue, Colchester, VT 05446. Visit burkefuneralhome.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — George A. Moline, 95, of Saratoga Springs, NY, beloved husband, companion and best friend of Jean, passed from this life on May 15, 2020. Services will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Patricia A. (Collins) Goodale, 78, of Saratoga Springs, and formerly of Niskayuna, died on May 21, 2020. The family hopes to hold a celebration of her life for family and friends at a future date. Memorial donations to Saratoga Arts or Shelters of Saratoga. Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Elizabeth A. Farmer (Saxton), 59, of Saratoga Springs passed away peacefully on May 19, 2020 at Saratoga Hospital after a short battle with cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations be made to Community Hospice of Saratoga Springs, NY. Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Thursday, May 21, 2020, Melford Mildred (Jackson) Dart, “Millie,” 88, was released from her earthly bonds to join her heavenly family. Services and internment at the Greenridge Cemetery were private. Memorial donations may be made to Saratoga Hospital Foundation (Women’s Breast Care Center (Mammography). Visit burkefuneralhome.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame announced May 21 it will cancel the 2020 Hall of Fame induction ceremony and the Museum Ball as a result of the ongoing health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are incredibly disappointed we won’t be able to have these time-honored special events this summer, but the health concerns we are facing right now take precedence,” said John Hendrickson, president of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in a statement. “The Hall of Fame ceremony is an experience we want to be able to share with the fans. With racing at Saratoga this summer likely to take place without spectators, we believe it is in the best interests of everyone involved and for the integrity of the event to postpone the ceremony for a year.”
The Hall of Fame ceremony was scheduled for Friday, Aug. 7. This year’s induction class — trainer Mark Casse, jockey Darrel McHargue, horses Wise Dan and Tom Bowling, and Pillars of the Turf Alice Headley Chandler, Keene Daingerfield, Jr., and George D. Widener, Jr. — will be inducted in the traditional manner alongside the class of 2021
next August.
“The 2020 inductees will be honored together with the class of 2021 next summer in what will be a truly special ceremony,” Hendrickson said. “Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is the most prestigious honor in the sport of thoroughbred racing and we will make sure this year’s class is properly recognized for the incredible mark they have made on the game.”
The 44th Annual Museum Ball, which was scheduled for Aug. 14, is traditionally one of the highlights of the Saratoga summer social season. That event will also return to the calendar in 2021.
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame remains closed to the public. The Museum is currently under construction, as work has resumed this week on the new Hall of Fame Education Experience. More information on the reopening of the Museum will be forthcoming.
ELMONT — The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced a new charitable initiative designed to raise funds for the NYRA backstretch community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fans can support the effort by purchasing new t-shirts emblazoned with the inspirational messages “Belmont Tough” and “Saratoga Tough.” The t-shirts emphasize the strength and commitment of the men and women who have been working throughout the pandemic to provide essential care for the 1,500 horses stabled on the property.
The Belmont Tough t-shirt is available in steel grey and the Saratoga Tough t-shirt is offered in heather red. The limited-edition t-shirts are now available for sale by visiting online.
NYRA will donate all net proceeds from t-shirt sales in equal allotments to three non-profit organizations which serve the Belmont Park backstretch community: the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA); the Backstretch Employee Service Team of New York (B.E.S.T.); and the New York Race Track Chaplaincy of America (NYRTCA).
“The backstretch workers are the unsung heroes of our sport,” said NYRA Chief Operating Officer Gordon Lavalette. “As we move toward the resumption of live racing, we encourage fans to support the men and women whose hard work and dedication have made that possible.”
The BCCA operates Anna House, a childcare and early-childhood education facility at Belmont Park for backstretch families, providing vital support to those who work in thoroughbred racing. Libby Imperio, a longtime owner on the NYRA circuit, is the president of the BCCA board and oversees the organization’s fundraising and outreach efforts.
Anna House was closed on March 17 consistent with Nassau County’s decision to close public schools to help limit the spread of the coronavirus, but the BCCA continues to work remotely to support the children of backstretch workers.
B.E.S.T. operates the B.E.S.T. Health Center located on the Belmont Park backstretch and maintains a staff of 15 full-time workers and numerous volunteers who are tasked with providing backstretch workers free health care, life insurance, drug and mental health counseling, food and clothing.
Led by Executive Director Paul Ruchames, B.E.S.T. operates on an annual budget in excess of $2.2 million which is funded mainly by NYRA and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA), along with public donations and grants from private foundations.
The NYRTCA, led by Chaplain Humberto Chavez, ministers to the backstretch community with children’s enrichment, social services, recreational programs, educational opportunities and non-denominational religious services.
ELMONT — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) this week announced a number of safety initiatives and entry rule changes for the upcoming 25-day spring/summer meet at Belmont Park. The Belmont spring/summer meet kicks off on Wednesday, June 3.
NYRA says after consulting with independent experts, veterinarians, horsemen and regulators, it has implemented a number of racing rules to further enhance equine safety and ensure trainers/owners are equitably represented in the entries due to the lengthy suspension of live racing on the NYRA circuit due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New rules for horses coming off layoffs or making career debut as 4-year-old: Horses which have not started in more than 180 days, or less than 365 days, will be placed on the Veterinarians’ List and must be presented to the NYRA Veterinarian prior to racing.
Horses which have not raced in 365 days will automatically be added to the Veterinarians’ List and must satisfy the same requirements for removal from the Veterinarians’ List as horses designated as “unsound.” If a start has not been made within 60 days of the NYRA Veterinarians’ clearance, then the horse will be placed back on the Veterinarians’ list.
Horses which have not made a start prior to Feb. 1 of their 4-year-old year will automatically be placed on the Veterinarians’ List and must satisfy the same requirements for removal from the Veterinarians’ List as horses designated as “unsound.” If a start has not been made within 60 days of the NYRA Veterinarians’ clearance, then the horse will be placed back on the Veterinarians’ List.
Waiver Claiming Option – Claiming Races: At time of entry into a claiming race an owner/trainer may opt to declare a horse exempt from being claimed. For the Belmont spring/summer meet, the following waiver claiming rule applies: The horse has not started since March 16, 2020; The horse is entered for a claiming price equal to or greater than the price it last started for (horse must have started in a claiming race in the previous start to qualify); Failure to declare the horse exempt at the time of entry may not be remedied; The waiver rule can only be applied to said horse’s first start following each such layoff.
New Trainer Entry rule: In all overnight races no same trainer entry will be allowed to draw into the body of a race to the exclusion of a different trainer entrant. At time of entry, trainers must designate a “different owner first choice (DO1) and a “different owner second choice (DO2).” Stakes races are excluded from this rule. A different owner second entry (DO2) is preferred over a same owner second entry (SO2).
For more information, please go to: www.nyrainc.com/about/nyra-safety.
