NYRA unveils improvements at tracks to enhance guest experience

NYRA unveils improvements at tracks to enhance guest

experience

At Wednesday's regularly scheduled meeting of the New York

Racing Association (NYRA) Reorganization board in New York City, NYRA CEO

and President Chris Kay outlined a series of enhancements at Belmont Park,

Saratoga and Aqueduct designed to improve the on-track

guest experience at all three facilities.

The guest-experience-related enhancements were identified

based on feedback from guests as well as internal assessments of each facility.

The vast majority of the improvements will have been completed prior to the next

opening day of each racetrack.

"We want our guests to have a great experience when they

visit any of our three racing venues," Kay remarked. "The actions we are taking are

intended to improve that experience for all of our loyal fans and bettors."

Kay said admission prices to Belmont and Saratoga are expected to be announced shortly, pending final conclusions from a

consulting firm tasked with conducting market research on changes previously

approved at the December board meeting. The board heard additional reports from Chair David J. Skorton and Chief Financial Officer Susanne Stover.

The board also heard reports from the Audit and Compliance

Committee, the Finance Committee, the Equine Safety Committee, the Racing

Committee and the Long Term Planning Committee. Elected to the Racing Committee were Joseph Spinelli and

Stuart Subotnick. In addition, the board voted to approve the minutes of the

board meeting held on December 4.

All materials discussed and reviewed during the Board's

meetings, replays of past meetings, and a list of Board members are available

by clicking

here.

The guest-focused capital improvements at the three

NYRA facilities include:

Belmont Park

High Definition (HD) televisions -- A total of 131 new HD

televisions will be installed throughout all four levels of the facility prior

to Belmont's 2014 opening day on May 1. New HD screens (or self-service wagering

terminals) will also be installed in second-floor box seats for improved viewing

of live and simulcast racing. Including the 524 new HD televisions that have

been added in the last few years, a total of 655 new HD TVs will have been

installed.

Belmont Café -- The dining and wagering area, open all year,

on the first floor of the clubhouse will be modernized with new tables and

chairs and other enhancements.

Backyard music stage -- The popular backyard area will

feature a new stage for concerts and other events during live race meets.

Paddock concession stand -- A new concession stand will be

constructed adjacent to Belmont's paddock offering food and

beverages and a patio seating area. (Expected time of completion is fall 2014)

Paddock video board -- A new 8' by 15' video display wall

will be installed by the paddock walking ring offering guests throughout the

paddock area enhanced, HD picture quality.

Top of the Stretch picnic area -- The popular trackside area

will be expanded with two additional sections affording guests the opportunity

to picnic all afternoon long and watch the races up close.

Saratoga

HD televisions -- Approximately 750 new HD televisions,

ranging in size from 19"-70", will be installed throughout the facility. Some

500 of the new TVs will be placed in the popular backyard area and in exterior

grounds near the grandstand and clubhouse. The other 250 televisions will be

installed within the interior of the grandstand/clubhouse, including all dining,

bar and mutuel areas. Clubhouse box seats will also be equipped with new HD

televisions.

Sound system -- An enhanced sound system will allow for

improved transmission of race calls, announcements, video programming and

winner's circle events.

Picnic tables -- An additional 125 picnic tables will be

added in selected areas of the backyard area. Available to all guests at no

charge on a first-come, first-served basis, the tables have become very popular

party settings for families and friends during live racing.

Video walls -- Large new video walls will be installed in

three highly-populated grandstand areas - the paddock, the outdoor mutuel bay

and near the Carousel Restaurant - for enhanced, HD video display of races and

other information.

Trakus -- The high-tech system that enables television

viewers to easily track their horse's position throughout a race will be

launched at Saratoga in 2014.

Event Tent -- Home to a number of events including fashion

shows, international day celebrations, Taste of NY and other vendors, the Event

Tent will be expanded to 40' by 70' and feature improved flooring and

electricity.

Child-friendly entertainment -- In addition to the many

family fun activities, the highly popular playground area will be expanded so

that kids have more room to play on the various pieces of equipment. Separately,

the backyard will have a dedicated area where children can visit with and touch

one of Saratoga's outrider horses and learn about a horse's daily routines and

activities.

Wi-Fi -- After monitoring areas of high density Wi-Fi usage

on-track last year, capacity in high volume areas will be quadrupled this year

in order to improve service and minimize connectivity delays.

Restrooms -- Saratoga restrooms will receive a number of

upgrades, including new fixtures, mirrors, paint and more.

Outdoor dining -- The popular Saratoga Porch dining area,

open for breakfast and lunch, will be expanded to provide more tables offering a

close-up view of the races.

Aqueduct

Longshots -- This new, state-of-the-art simulcasting center

offering a variety of food and beverage options is under construction and

expected to open next month.

Infield video boards -- Installed last November, the large,

HD monitors offer improved viewing of races and other information by those

watching from outdoors or from inside the building.

HD televisions and cameras -- New television cameras were

purchased enabling Aqueduct to shoot and transmit video in HD, and new HD

televisions were installed throughout the building's interior, with more to come

later in 2014.

Trakus -- The high-tech system that enables television

viewers to easily track their horse's position throughout a race was launched in

November 2013.

Interior seating -- Modern, airport-style seating will be

installed on the second floor later in 2014.

Lighting -- Interior and exterior lighting has been enhanced

throughout the facility and outside areas, including in parking areas.

Flooring -- New carpeting and other flooring materials have

been installed with additional upgrades to be made at the conclusion of the

current Aqueduct race meet.

Painting -- Extensive painting has been performed throughout

the facility's interior and this will continue throughout the year.

Infield landscaping -- A host of upgrades to the Aqueduct

infield have been made including the refurbishment/reconstruction of a pond and

new fountain along with additional landscaping. These improvements will become

more apparent once warmer temperatures arrive.

Aqueduct Murals -- Unveiled last November, this highly

publicized and acclaimed project features the work of 13 internationally

renowned street artists on the walls of Aqueduct's first floor. An on-track

extension of the Aqueduct Murals project is planned for later in 2014.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com