Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Contact: Jenny Kellner
vkellner@nyrainc.com
BIG A TO OFFER SIMULCASTING FROM SOUTH AMERICA
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Simulcast wagering on seven major South American racetracks will be available to New York racing fans when Aqueduct Racetrack begins its 36-day fall meet on Friday, November 5.
Wednesdays through Sundays, starting at approximately 5:30 p.m., fans will be able to watch and wager on racing from Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay at the Big A following the simulcasts from Calder or Laurel (except for Sundays at Laurel). Fans can also wager on the South American races through NYRA Rewards Internet Wagering or Telebet.
Past performances for the South American races will be included in the Daily Racing Program (DRP) as part of the Calder and Laurel past performance sections. The DRP is available for purchase at Aqueduct.
The seven racetracks – San Isidro, La Plata, and Palermo in Argentina, Maronas in Uruguay, and Valparaiso Sporting Club, Hipodromo Chile and Club Hipico in Santiago, Chili – offer more than 250 graded stakes throughout the year. Big A fans will be able to get in on the action beginning Breeders’ Cup Saturday, November 6, with the simulcast of the Grade 1 Alberto Solari from Hipodromo Chile.
Over the next few months, the Big A also will simulcast the Grade 1 Gran Premio Nacional, one of four Grade 1’s from Palermo on November 13, the Grade 1 Las Oaks from Club Hipico on December 3, and South America’s most important race, the Grade 1, 1 ½ mile Carlos Pellegri from San Isidro on December 11.
“We are pleased to offer our customers the ability to wager on South American racing,” said NYRA Executive VP and COO Hal Handel. “Their tracks offer a terrific product and we are looking forward to working with them and expanding the NYRA simulcasting menu.”
Founded in 1955, and franchised to run thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major tracks through 2033, NYRA boasts a lineage that actually stretches back almost 150 years. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of the state’s thoroughbred business which contributes more than $2 billion annually to New York State’s urban, suburban and rural economy. In 2009, more than 1.6 million people attended the live races at NYRA tracks. Factoring nationwide off-track wagering, the average daily betting handle on NYRA races alone totals more than $9.3 million every race day. NYRA has a vast network of websites, including www.nyra.com, www.belmontstakes.com, and www.nyragroupsales.com. You can also follow NYRA on social media platforms Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and YouTube.
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