Saturday, July 7, 2012
Contact: Dan Silver
dsilver@nyrainc.com
MORE JOCKEYS JOIN FOXWOODS PONY UP FOR PDJF POKER TOURNAMENT ON JULY 10
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Foxwoods Resort Casino and The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will present the Pony Up for PDJF No-Limit Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament on Tuesday, July 10 at Foxwoods.
John Velazquez, who will be inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame on August 10, and Rajiv Maragh, who won last summer’s prestigious Whitney Handicap at Saratoga Race Course aboard Tizway, are scheduled to serve as co-hosts of the tournament. Reigning Eclipse Champion jockey Ramon Dominguez will be joined by Javier Castellano, winner of the 2011 Travers aboard Stay Thirsty, and fellow New York riders Ariel Smith and Maylan Studart. Former champion jockey and current NYRA television analyst Richard Migliore will also participate.
The tournament will begin at 4 p.m., with a jockey meet and greet scheduled for 3 p.m. in the Foxwoods Race Book, adjoining the poker tournament area. Autographed photos, caps, and other racing memorabilia will be available with a donation to the PDJF.
Entry to the tournament costs $120, with $80 going to the prize pool and $40 going to the entry fee. All entry fees, rebuys, and add-ons will be donated directly to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
Those interested in playing can pre-register online at www.pokertickets.com/foxwoods.
The 40-day Saratoga meet commences for the 144th time on Friday, July 20, with a card featuring the Grade 3 Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies and the Grade 3 James Marvin for sprinters. There will be live racing six days a week, Wednesday through Monday. The 143rd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers is set for Saturday, August 25 with an undercard including the Grade 1 Foxwoods King’s Bishop, the Grade 1 Test, and the Grade 2 Ballston Spa. The Saratoga meet concludes on Labor Day, Monday, September 3, featuring the Grade 2 Three Chimneys Hopeful for 2-year-old colts.
About Foxwoods ® Resort Casino
Foxwoods Resort Casino is one of the premier entertainment destinations in the Northeast. As the largest resort casino in North America, Foxwoods offers a vast array of gaming in six casinos; AAA Four-Diamond hotels, restaurants from gourmet to express, world-renowned spas, awarding-winning golf, state-of-the-art theaters, and exclusive retailers. Perfect for both recreation and business, Foxwoods provides modern and versatile convention and meeting space to infuse new life into any meeting or event. At Foxwoods, you can be anyone and do everything with endless possibilities of experiences that are Anything but Ordinary. Foxwoods Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. For a comprehensive look at Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation visit Foxwoods.com.
About NYRA
Founded in 1955, and franchised to run thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major tracks (Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course) 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 2011, more than 1.8 million people attended the live races at NYRA tracks. Factoring in nationwide off-track wagering, the average daily betting handle on NYRA races totals more than $8.1 million. 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, Tumblr, Twitter, and YouTube.
About PDJF
The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) was incorporated in the spring of 2006. It was a collaborative effort of many leaders in the horse racing industry, including race tracks, jockeys, horsemen, and many others who had a vision of a program that would bring much-needed financial assistance to a group of athletes who have given so much to the sport of horse racing. The PDJF is governed by an independent board comprised of stakeholders from a broad cross-section of the horse racing industry. The PDJF is committed to working with both industry and medical research groups to improve the safety of both the human and equine athlete. You can visit the PDJF online at http://www.pdjf.org/
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