Divorce between NYRA and DRF seems final as Clueless Kay refused to be interviewed by DRF's NY guy,Dave Grening,pre meeting.


Bloodhorse:

Two days before the opening of a Saratoga Race Course meet that will see a number of changes from previous years, a near-capacity crowd at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame had plenty of questions for New York Racing Association president Christopher Kay.

The Hall of Fame hosted its annual meet preview panel for the local community the evening of July 22. This year's panel included Kay, NYRA race caller Larry Collmus, trainer Gary Contessa, and television and radio host Steve Byk. The panel was moderated by Brien Bouyea, the museum's communications officer.

The crowd predictably peppered Kay with questions about changes for the meet that begins July 24, including new charges for seating in the Carousel Restaurant and backyard picnic area, proposed development on racetrack property, purse structure, and elimination of the track's open house, held traditionally the Sunday before opening day.

As he has at other recent public forums, Kay insisted that the cancellation of the open house was not a unilateral NYRA decision, but one taken in conjunction with the local chamber of commerce. According to Kay, Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, said the annual event had "run its course" and that the local non-profits that had participated became dissatisfied with the lack of significant fundraising that occurred.

Kay said cancellation of the open house was done to support the people of Saratoga, and he pointed out that non-profits were given the opportunity to have a day in the track's Community Outreach booth, which would offer more fundraising potential because of the larger crowds on a racing day.

Kay also explained the reasoning behind the new reservation policies for the lower level of the Carousel, which is being redeveloped into a sports bar, and for 100 picnic tables in the backyard. He said the reservations provided an opportunity for customers to reserve a table without having to arrive early and rush to secure one. Several members of the audience expressed their support for the new initiative.

Kay was less certain when asked about details of the new projects. He seemed unaware that the proposed redevelopment plan, which has been widely distributed and the subject of open forums in Saratoga Springs, includes expanding the backyard out to Union Avenue. And when asked how late the new sports bar would stay open, he said, "I don't know."

Asked about changes in purse structure, he told a questioner he would take her name and ask NYRA's senior vice president of racing operations, Martin Panza, to get back to her.

Trainer Gary Contessa fielded several questions about the basics of horse ownership and training, such as morning workouts and working with jockeys' agents, and announced that he would hold three fan education seminars this summer, one at his barn and two at the Hall of Fame.

"It's my way of giving a little bit back," Contessa said.

Echoing a statement he has made publicly several times, Kay said "owners are the lifeblood" of horse racing and that he was most looking forward to honoring owners and breeders Marylou Whitney and Ogden Mills "Dinny" Phipps in the third red jacket ceremony this year, the day before the Travers Stakes (gr. I).They will join trainers Allen Jerkens and D. Wayne Lukas; jockeys John Velazquez, Angel Cordero Jr., and Jerry Bailey; and retired NYRA race caller Tom Durkin in the newly-constructed Walk of Fame on the racetrack grounds.

In addition to owners, Kay said horseplayers and fans are the most important people in racing. He said he is looking forward to the summer handicapping contests at Saratoga and to soliciting feedback from fans on the changes at the track.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how people react," he said. "The Walk of Fame, the new lower Carousel—how are people going to react to them?"

While initial reactions have leaned toward the negative regarding some of the changes, the audience offered a mix of feedback, with the most vehement coming from those opposed to them. Nevertheless, Kay said he'd be out among NYRA's customers this summer.

"I'm there every day," he said. "In the backyard, in the clubhouse, in the grandstand, asking people what they think."