SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has worked closely with the City of Saratoga over the past couple weeks to set up Saratoga for another year of horse racing. However, with the threat of the Coronavirus still looming about they are going to be switching to a more virtual approach to racing this year. While fans won’t be able to get the full in-person experience of a day out to the races, the NYRA is still looking to offer them a way to partake in the quintessential Saratoga summer experience.
While broadcasting the races on live television and online is nothing new for Saratoga racing, the NYRA is promoting their “Saratoga Live” broadcast nationwide for all racing fans to watch. These broadcasts can be viewed on Fox Sports 2 and MSG+ from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. or on FS Regionals from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on all racing days. Be aware that with the uniqueness of this racing season, all times and dates are subject to change. Be sure to check the NYRA Website for more information on broadcast times and channels as to not miss out on the best races this season.
One of the main appeals for fans and newcomers alike is betting on the races. The amount of upsets and the thrill of close stake races definitely backs up the nickname of the Saratoga Race Course, “Graveyard of Champions.” Off-Track Betting (OTB) is becoming more popular with the absences of on course betting. The thrill of betting on horses, whether it be letting it ride on long odds, taking the safe bet, or just choosing the horse with the best name is an experience that is many horse racing fans enjoy. There are many different OTB sites across the capital region that make it easy to stop in and place bets on your favorite horses. Also, there is OTB Mobile Wagering so people can place horse bets easy. The ease of using a mobile app to bet, as well as the constant access to race results makes it a popular way for people to partake in Saratoga Racings main appeal.
However, NYRA isn’t just looking to simulate the racing experience, but are also looking to highlight local non-profit organizations in the Saratoga County area as part of Community Outreach. While racing is center stage during any visit to the track, the booths setup also help to contribute the atmosphere and helps to give back to the local community for being so supportive of the race course. This year, NYRA will be featuring these non-profit organizations on their websites community tab. In statement by NYRA’s President and CEO, Dave O’Rourke, “We encourage fans to visit our website throughout the season to learn more about the impact these organizations have on our community.”
Also, to go along with this unique season, NYRA and the City of Saratoga Springs are joining with two local non-profit organizations in a joint initiative to fundraise for the community through the sale of Saratoga Race Course face masks. This announcement comes after their original launch of the masks in mid-June which quickly sold out. The masks come in packs of three featuring different designs: a white mask with a red Saratoga logo, a blue mask with a red logo, and a red mask with a white logo. Fans that want get some of this limited time merchandise should act fast and preorder on the NYRA webpage before they sell out again.
With the first few days of racing underway, be sure not to miss out on any of the action and know that NYRA is doing their best to keep things fresh and new this season. For any scheduling or event news, be sure to check out the NYRA webpage for Saratoga at nyra.com/saratoga.
