New York Racing Association

A mistake by stewards at Saratoga Race Course in New York almost three years ago will come full circle this fall when a first-of-its-kind Steward's Certification Program begins at the University of Louisville. There has been a longstanding need for such a program, racing officials say, but it took the erroneous disqualification of a filly named Allumeuse to prompt action on the issue. Allumeuse was first under the wire in the second race at Saratoga on Aug. 2, 1986, only to be taken down for alleged interference.

Belmont Park will be the international center of the racing world on Saturday, hosting the 22nd running of the Breeders' Cup, but behind the scenes the New York Racing Assn., which operates the 100-year-old track and New York's two other major thoroughbred tracks, is fighting for its financial life. "They could be out of money in a month," said Ben Liebman, a former member of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board who is coordinator of a racing and gaming law program for the Albany (N.Y.

Belmont Park will be the international center of the racing world on Saturday, hosting the 22nd running of the Breeders' Cup, but behind the scenes the New York Racing Assn., which operates the 100-year-old track and New York's two other major thoroughbred tracks, is fighting for its financial life. "They could be out of money in a month," said Ben Liebman, a former member of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board who is coordinator of a racing and gaming law program for the Albany (N.Y.

An attorney for one of two indicted New York Racing Assn. officials said Thursday that his client had been used as a "sacrificial lamb" as the association sought to avoid a criminal indictment.

Maybe the New York Racing Assn. could use a little horse sense. Three years ago, riding Saratoga's popularity all the way to the bank, the NYRA broke with tradition and expanded the thoroughbred racing meet from 24 days to 30. And the fans came in droves--more than 100,000 for the first time in its storied history--and bet an extra $11 million. This year, after two more record-setting meets, another four days were tacked on, giving the venerable track its earliest starting date ever.

An attorney for one of two indicted New York Racing Assn. officials said Thursday that his client had been used as a "sacrificial lamb" as the association sought to avoid a criminal indictment.

When a racetrack draws more than 65,000 fans, as Saratoga did Saturday, that would normally be cause for celebration in the executive suite. But officials from the New York Racing Assn., which runs Saratoga and the state's two other major tracks, are tempering their glee these days. There seems to be no limit to the number of intruders who have put NYRA in their crosshairs.

There are about 100 thoroughbred racetracks in the U.S., but the linchpins of a long-troubled sport are three companies that own 20 of them. Those companies -- Churchill Downs Inc. in Louisville, Ky., Magna Entertainment Inc. in suburban Toronto, and the New York Racing Assn. -- might have a corner on the industry, but they also bear the burden of racing's mountain of problems. * Churchill is feuding with the Jockeys' Guild, whose members ride most of the races.

The besieged New York Racing Assn. fired two veteran officials Wednesday after they were named in a 291-count state indictment that said they took cash bribes in exchange for allowing jockeys to ride as much as seven to 15 pounds overweight. Mario Sclafani, clerk of scales at the New York tracks -- Belmont Park, Saratoga and Aqueduct -- and his assistant, retired Hall of Fame jockey Braulio Baeza, face maximum sentences of seven years apiece if found guilty.

The besieged New York Racing Assn. fired two veteran officials Wednesday after they were named in a 291-count state indictment that said they took cash bribes in exchange for allowing jockeys to ride as much as seven to 15 pounds overweight. Mario Sclafani, clerk of scales at the New York tracks -- Belmont Park, Saratoga and Aqueduct -- and his assistant, retired Hall of Fame jockey Braulio Baeza, face maximum sentences of seven years apiece if found guilty.

There are about 100 thoroughbred racetracks in the U.S., but the linchpins of a long-troubled sport are three companies that own 20 of them. Those companies -- Churchill Downs Inc. in Louisville, Ky., Magna Entertainment Inc. in suburban Toronto, and the New York Racing Assn. -- might have a corner on the industry, but they also bear the burden of racing's mountain of problems. * Churchill is feuding with the Jockeys' Guild, whose members ride most of the races.

When a racetrack draws more than 65,000 fans, as Saratoga did Saturday, that would normally be cause for celebration in the executive suite. But officials from the New York Racing Assn., which runs Saratoga and the state's two other major tracks, are tempering their glee these days. There seems to be no limit to the number of intruders who have put NYRA in their crosshairs.

Maybe the New York Racing Assn. could use a little horse sense. Three years ago, riding Saratoga's popularity all the way to the bank, the NYRA broke with tradition and expanded the thoroughbred racing meet from 24 days to 30. And the fans came in droves--more than 100,000 for the first time in its storied history--and bet an extra $11 million. This year, after two more record-setting meets, another four days were tacked on, giving the venerable track its earliest starting date ever.

A mistake by stewards at Saratoga Race Course in New York almost three years ago will come full circle this fall when a first-of-its-kind Steward's Certification Program begins at the University of Louisville. There has been a longstanding need for such a program, racing officials say, but it took the erroneous disqualification of a filly named Allumeuse to prompt action on the issue. Allumeuse was first under the wire in the second race at Saratoga on Aug. 2, 1986, only to be taken down for alleged interference.

Horatio Luro, who trained two Kentucky Derby winners, has died at 90. Luro, a native of Argentina, died Sunday of pancreatic cancer at his Bal Harbour, Fla., home, the New York Racing Association said. Luro won the Derby with Decidedly in 1962 and Northern Dancer in 1964.

Racing fans will find out Monday if they will be able to enjoy an extra week of racing at Saratoga this summer. The New York Racing Association, amid reports that it will extend Saratoga's four-week thoroughbred racing season to five weeks, said Friday it will hold news conferences at Aqueduct and in Albany Monday. NYRA will make "a couple of announcements" then, said Glen Mathis, a NYRA spokesman in New York City.