Community Relations

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) is committed to upholding the ideals of community service and support within our thoroughbred racing industry and the communities neighboring Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.

With a focus on building communities through giving, NYRA is proud to support industry-related groups, including the Belmont Child Care Association, known as Anna House, for the benefit of working families at the track; the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T), which provides a wide range of health and human services to workers in the barn areas of NYRA’s three racetracks; and the New York Racetrack Chaplaincy. NYRA also supports and advocates for the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, and the Jockey Safety Net Foundation.

NYRA also partners with national organizations which address a broader constituency, including the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the American Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House and Toys for Tots.

NYRA serves as the proud host of the annual Belmont Stakes Blue Ribbon Run for Prostate Cancer, which raises thousands of dollars each year raises to benefit the Integrated Medical Foundation, and Fabulous Fillies Day at Saratoga Race Course for Play for P.I.N.K., supporting breast cancer research.

On the Thursday before the Belmont Stakes, NYRA’s Community Day kicks off the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, hosting dozens of local groups and nonprofits. With thousands of fans in attendance each year, the open house-style event offers local organizations the opportunity to foster relationships with members of the community and raise funds. NYRA also partners with the city of Elmont, N.Y., the home of Belmont Park, to hold the annual Elmont/Belmont Parade on the Saturday before the “Test of the Champion.”

At Saratoga, NYRA offers the Community Outreach Booth, established to offer local charities the opportunity to provide information about their mission and raise much-needed funds. In 2018, more than three dozen organizations used the booth to raise awareness and accept donations.

In our continuing effort to support the people and organizations that support racing, NYRA hosts “Day at the Races” for military veterans, first responders, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Toys for Tots, and numerous community organizations.

Contact Information

P.O. Box 90
Jamaica, New York 11417
718.659.2272
[email protected]

Donation Requests

In kind donations, known as Day at the Races offer smaller grassroots charities the ability to perform their own fundraising.  The popular Day at the Races package may include a race naming, winner’s circle trophy presentations and VIP tickets.  Charities are offered these packages as auction items for their events.