Just over 2 years ago (May 18, 2010) we wrote a blog “Saratoga Is Saved!”, in which we reported the disarray of the NYRA at the time.  Threats that Saratoga wouldn’t open and that horse racing in New York would come crashing down in bankruptcy courts. Along came Gov. David Patterson to announce that Saratoga Race Course would indeed open and the NYRA would be reorganized.

Then in December of the same year we wrote a tongue in cheek piece “The Top 10 Reasons the NY OTB Parlors Went Under” as NY closed the doors for good throughout the city and surrounding area.

It looked like NY racing was officially on life support and ready to pass on to greener pastures in the sky forever. But fast forward to today and we now see a shining racing association on a hill. Breeders and trainers hauling their horses by the trailer loads north from Kentucky and Virginia into the Empire State.  The best jockeys in the country have moved their tack to Belmont for the summer and most will be going on to Saratoga soon.

Jockey of the Year last couple of years Ramon Dominguez now finds greats like John Velazquez, Julien Leparoux, Rosie Napravnik, Javier Castellano, Jose Lezcano and new arrival West Coast leader Joel Rosario.  And that is a who’s who of riders all competing for the big purse money of the “Big Apple”.

About a year ago in response to the state’s yanking on NYRA’s purse strings by withholding casino revenue, NYRA gave in to the demands of the new Governor Andrew Cuomo and agreed to a reorganization that will give the state the ability to redefine the not-for-profit corporation.

The establishment of the NYRA Reorganization Board which for the next three years will control racing in New York through a board dominated by public appointees. The new 17-person board will feature seven members named by Cuomo, two by the New York Senate and Assembly and five more will be selected by NYRA. Breeders and horsemen will be given an ex officio member, while the chairperson, who must be approved by the board, will be nominated by Cuomo.

So far it’s working and NYRA is thriving but time will tell and as small hitches come up along the way we will see how they adapt and tweak this new organization. One state that should be watching closer than anyone is Kentucky, “the heartland of horse racing”.  It seems they are now the ones that have lost their way.

Just like the original motto of Avis Rental Car, Inc. “We’re #2, We Try Harder!”, many believe that Zayat Stables LLC must be relating to that very same feeling.  Instead they have publically announced that they have enjoyed these last weeks of Triple Crown Action even after finishing 2nd in each of the 3 races.

And there is no need to worry about the Stable’s compensation for entering the 3 major races with Bodemiester and Paynter since their reward amounts to about $400,000 for the Kentucky Derby, $200,000 for the Preakness and $200,000 for the Belmont Stakes. And that is only purse money and doesn’t include all the other residuals that may be available.

Egyptian born Businessman Ahmed Zayat first entered Thoroughbred racing in 2005. In the eight-year span from 2005 to 2012, Zayat Stables has ranked among the top five Owners in North America six times, led by the nation’s #1 ranking in 2008. Some of their more famous entries include Jaycito, Pioneerof the Nile, A Z Warrior, Eskendereya and now Bodemeister and Paynter.

And with this new shot of income the Zayat Stables should be able to get the bankruptcy monkey off their back much sooner than expected. They filed Chapter 11 in 2010 with promise to the court to restructure and pay off all debts. These last 5 weeks have helped tremendously toward that goal but just like the Belmont Stakes that home stretch can seem like it never ends…. but eventually it does…. just ask Mike Smith.