The 2024 Saratoga racing season has often been plagued by safety issues in recent years, but with improvements in horse safety and management practices, this season has made commendable progress. The number of horse fatalities has significantly decreased this season, with only one race-related death and two training deaths, in stark contrast to the nine race-related deaths and four training deaths recorded in 2023.
The "Daily Racing Form" quotes Dave O'Rourke, president and CEO of the New York Racing Association (NYRA), as being pleased with this progress, noting, "By the numbers, this is the safest meet since I've been here, and we've also seen continued improvement."
The 2023 races were notably affected by adverse weather, leading to less than ideal decisions on the use of turf courses, resulting in at least 12 horse deaths. This year, NYRA implemented a more conservative strategy, quickly moving races off the turf to better accommodate weather conditions. These measures played a crucial role in enhancing the safety and integrity of the races.
The mandatory pre-race veterinary inspection policy implemented last fall played a key role. Dr. Sarah Hinchliffe, NYRA's chief veterinarian, and her team were instrumental in these improvements. O'Rourke praised their efforts, stating, "It's all to the credit of Sarah and her team, I think they've done an outstanding job... As for their decision-making process, I don't interfere."
Financial and Operational Success
Despite frequent weather disruptions causing one race cancellation and many turf races being moved to dirt tracks, the season was financially successful. The total betting amount reached $803,806,964, a slight increase from the previous year and the third highest in Saratoga history. The average daily betting amount also increased, reaching $20,610,435.
Attendance was also quite substantial, with the total attendance nearly equal to last year at 1,051,092 people. Daily attendance slightly declined but did not affect the enthusiasm, as O'Rourke noted the high quality of the event, saying, "In terms of daily reception, this is still the highest quality race in the nation."
Looking ahead, the New York Rally is exploring the introduction of synthetic Tapeta tracks at Saratoga to maintain race continuity in adverse weather. While replacing one of the turf tracks with a Tapeta track is a significant consideration, O'Rourke emphasized the importance of careful study before making such a decision. He also mentioned the possibility of adding synthetic track surfaces at the Oklahoma turf training facility to provide additional training options in bad weather.
For the 2025 season, Saratoga is expected to retain its 40-day schedule, but racing dates may increase. The final week of the Big A spring-summer event, the Belmont Racing Festival, might also be held at Saratoga, enriching the schedule for the Belmont Championship held on June 7, 2025, at Saratoga.
