NYRA was founded in 1955, and is franchised to run thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major tracks (Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course) through 2033. NYRA annually conducts some of racing’s most prestigious events, including the Belmont Stakes, the Travers Stakes, and the Wood Memorial.
In 2014, more than 1.7 million people attended the live races at NYRA tracks. Annual wagering on NYRA’s tracks topped $2,200,000,000, resulting in average daily handle totaling more than $10 million, or roughly 20% of all pari-mutuel wagering in the United States.