Saratoga thoroughbred meet like no other opens with no fans

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) » A thoroughbred racing season like no other in Saratoga Race Course’s long history began Thursday under a gray sky, with jockeys wearing masks, a smattering of fans trying to peer through fencing to at least get a glimpse of the horses, and management hopeful of something good in spite of the new coronavirus.

“In terms of getting everything ready and running the races it’s similar,” said Dave O’Rourke, in his second year as president and CEO of the New York Racing Association. “In terms of people lining up outside the gates and getting ready for really what becomes a 40-day party here in terms of the racing world, it’s weird. But 2020 has been weird in a lot of different ways. So far, so good.”

Saratoga has 71 stakes races on the schedule worth $14.45 million, down from last year’s totals of 76 and nearly $21 million in purses. That’s a direct result of the impact of the pandemic.

“We’ve forecasted out the whole year,” O’Rourke said. “We’re not going to make money this year, but the last few years we’ve done well, so we have reserves. The idea will be, can we bridge ourselves into 2021 and, are things normal and if not, how do we at least keep moving forward?

“You have to see daylight at some point. I’m hopeful. Everyone is.”

Saratoga, which has been running since 1863, is the crown jewel for NYRA and one of the most important meets in the nation. Last summer’s 40 days of racing set a record for allsources betting handle at over $705 million, even though weather knocked out a full day of racing and half of another. The Spa also attracted over 1 million in paid attendance for the fifth straight year.

That impressive attendance streak is over. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and health officials decided in mid-May that racing could be held in the state but without spectators because of COVID-19. And although there’s been talk that a small number of spectators might be allowed inside toward the end of the meet, that’s probably not likely.