NYRA TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON PLANS FOR
HISTORIC SARATOGA RACE COURSE
Tuesday, March 15th at 5:30 p.m.
Dee Sarno Theatre
Saratoga Arts Center
320 Broadway
Free & Open to the Public
In 2009, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation invited Paul Roberts of Turnberry Consulting Ltd, Strategic Development Advisor for New York Racing Association (NYRA) to speak on an emerging strategy for the future of Saratoga Race Course. While there have been well reported delays in the availability of future funding from the VLT operator at the Aqueduct Race Track, construction finally began in the fall of last year thus providing greater certainty of VLT funding. As a result, the project here in Saratoga is beginning to move forward. The Foundation invited Paul Roberts and Charlie Hayward, President and CEO of NYRA, to provide an update on the progress of plans for the Saratoga Race Course and to answer any questions. People attending will also be given an opportunity to make suggestions and express their views on the future of the Race Course.
Since 2008, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation began raising funds for the unfunded mandate to complete an inventory of the architectural and landscape resources at the Saratoga Race Course as part of NYRA’s franchise agreement. Retained by the Local Race Track Advisory Board, the Foundation completed Phase I of the Inventory in September 2010. Phase I of the Inventory surveyed six areas of the backstretch. Phase II got underway in October 2010 and is expected to be completed in May of this year. Phase II includes the Grandstand, Clubhouse, Saddling Shed, Paddock and any buildings or landscape features of the “Backyard.” The Inventory has been funded by the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust, NYRA, and the Preserve New York grant program of the New York Council on the Arts and the Preservation League of New York State, and the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency through a partnership with the City of Saratoga Springs.