NYRA To Discuss Saratoga Racing Season Expansion

According to multiple sources, the proposed expansion of the Saratoga racing season will be a key topic of discussion among NYRA officials. There has been heavy speculation about a longer meet at Saratoga Race Course and there is a feeling of inevitability that it will happen as soon as 2019 with the popularity certainly of the Spa City but also the construction of the new Islanders arena near Belmont Park.

One source tells me, the proposed expansion would move the meet up by more than a week to a July 11 opening day with the traditional last day on Labor Day, September 2nd. Perhaps, the biggest difference would be two dark days; Monday and Tuesday. Add all that up and it's still 40 days of racing at Saratoga, but with two "off" days, which horsemen, trainers, jockeys, exercise riders and backstretch workers, have been in favor of. Racing six days a week for six weeks in the summer is a demanding schedule.