NYRA offers financial incentives to horsemen who participate in Belmont Stakes Racing Festival

The New York Racing Association announced Friday that it will offer financial incentives to horsemen who participate in the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which will be held at Saratoga from June 4-8.

Owners whose horses finish fourth through last in races run during those days will be eligible to receive $1,500 in stakes races and $1,000 in overnight races. Trainers are eligible to receive a bonus of $750 for a stakes starter and $500 for starters in overnight races for horses who finish fourth through last.

Eligible horses must be declared an official starter and must not be placed on the poor performance list or veterinarian’s list. Horses who get beat 25 lengths or more are automatically placed on the poor performance list.

The incentive program is designed to assist owners and trainers in covering additional expenses incurred for shipping into Saratoga earlier than the typical start of the track's summer meet, NYRA said in a release.

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