NYRA Opens Saratoga Season With Several New Upgrades
The NYRA today opens its 140th season at Saratoga Race Course, and this year as part of the Saratoga Preferred Access program, "patrons can pay to watch and wager on the races in a newly created air conditioned hospitality area positioned at the finish line," according to David Grening of DAILY RACING FORM. A seat in the hospitality area "costs $15,000 for the meet and includes dedicated concierge service, parking, golf cart pick-up and drop-off, and other perks such as enhanced food and beverage service." Individual seats in that area "can be purchased for $150 Sundays through Fridays; $250 for non-premium Saturdays; $300 for Alabama Saturday; and $500 for Travers Saturday." The suites "hold anywhere from 42 to 72 persons and the costs range from [$2,200-3,700] a day." NYRA also has added a fifth luxury suite located by the clubhouse turn, but "didn't renew approximately 25 clubhouse boxes and has or will be selling them to horsemen and fans or using them in sponsorship deals." NYRA also will debut Saratoga Restaurant Row, at which "five local restaurants will be selling some of their specialty items ranging from [$4-7]." NYRA also has invested in the "upgrading of the clubhouse and grandstand plumbing" (DRF.com, 7/21). In Saratoga Springs, Paul Post reports NYRA "spent more than $1[M] upgrading the racecourse in anticipation of the 36-day meet that runs through Labor Day." NYRA Senior VP/Sales & Marketing Gavin Landry: "I think we're in good shape" (SARATOGIAN, 7/23). On Long Island, Ed McNamara notes Saratoga's '07 on-track handle reached a record $123M, and the "total from all sources was $583[M], not far from an all-time high" (NEWSDAY, 7/23).
HIALEAH PARK: In West Palm Beach, Hal Habib reported CNet Founder & Owner Halsey Minor wants to "strike a deal with [Hialeah Park Owner John Brunetti], begin renovations to the hurricane-ravaged park and compete with Gulfstream Park during the prime winter tourist season." Brunetti "estimated it would take [$25-30M] to get [Hialeah Park] in racing shape, and even then, issues remain: whether a racing license can be obtained from the state, whether Hialeah can compete with Gulfstream in Hallandale Beach and Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, and whether accessibility will deter fans" (PALM BEACH POST, 7/19).
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