NYRA Seeks Compensation from Resorts World Over Sunday Cancellation

[Wandering Eyes]

After having to cancel Sunday's card at Aqueduct due to concerns that excessive noise from an event at the adjoining Resorts World Casino created unsafe racing conditions, the New York Racing Association has asked the casino company to pay them back.

“NYRA will seek reimbursement from Resorts World on behalf of the people impacted by the cancellation, most notably the horsemen and women who were deprived of racing opportunities on Sunday,” said NYRA Vice President, Communications Pat McKenna.

The event, the “March Madness Car and Bike Show,” was held in the parking area near the top of the stretch. The music was so loud that NYRA felt the horses might react to the noise, creating a safety hazard.

“Resorts World scheduled an event in a parking lot immediately adjacent to the top of the stretch without providing NYRA with advance notice or an opportunity to discuss its potential impact on our racing operations,” Andrew Offerman, NYRA's Sr. Vice President of Racing and Operations said in a statement. “We were then faced with wildly unpredictable sound levels and other concerns causing potentially unsafe circumstances for horses and riders. We were left with no choice but to cancel racing due to these concerns. NYRA will work with NYTHA and the NYSGC to determine appropriate next steps and how we can make up these lost racing opportunities for our participants.”

Genting, which operates the Resorts Worlds Casino, is required to give NYRA five days' notice of any event likely to interfere with racing operations. NYRA did not receive any such notice.

The disruption originated from the March Madness Car and Bike Show held at Resorts World Casino, which commenced at 1 p.m., just 10 minutes before scheduled first post at 1:10. The noise from the event was exceptionally loud, with music playing from both a DJ booth and vehicles on property. NYRA immediately reached out to Resorts World, but to no avail. By 12:45 p.m., NYRA was able to speak with Resorts World's on-site personnel, who were unable to relocate the event or otherwise resolve the various issues around their event.

Horses began entering the paddock at approximately 12:55 p.m. The stewards then met with the jockeys to provide an update as NYRA attempted to resolve the issue. At 1:45 p.m., with no clear resolution forthcoming, live racing was cancelled.

This is the second time since October that activity by Resorts World not communicated to NYRA in advance has resulted in the cancellation of racing. On the first occasion, Resorts World Casino treated the roof with a product that created air-quality issues on the building's top floor, which is occupied by live racing officials. As a result, the Oct. 11 card was canceled.

McKenna said that NYRA will attempt to add an additional day of racing sometime in April to make up for the cancellation.

At deadline or this story, an email to Resorts World's press department seeking comment had not been answered.

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