By Staff Writer
Sun, 10 Aug 2025 22:48:13 +0000
Disgruntled horse racing bettors have expressed significant anger and frustration towards the New York Racing Association (NYRA) following a controversial error in the final race at Saratoga Race Course. The issue, centered around a miscalculation of the race’s distance, has ignited a storm of criticism and raised serious questions about the association’s oversight.
During race twelve, it was revealed that the race was contested over 1 1/16 miles, rather than the intended 1 1/8 miles. This discrepancy, flagged by Dave Grening of the Daily Racing Form, prompted a statement from NYRA acknowledging the mistake and stating they were “reviewing the circumstances” of the race. However, the announcement provided no consolation to bettors who had wagered on Fidelightcayut, the initial winner of the event. Crucially, NYRA has announced it will not be issuing any refunds to affected bettors.
The situation is compounded by a similar, albeit reversed, error that occurred at Saratoga in 2018. In that instance, the starting gates were incorrectly positioned, resulting in a race of 1 1/8 miles instead of the planned 1 1/16 miles. This repeated lapse in judgment has fueled considerable outrage amongst the betting community.
Fan reaction has been vocal and largely negative. One user, commenting on the situation, wrote, “Bettors get screwed once again. Boycott Saratoga.” Another expressed a direct accusation, stating, “They won’t run when it’s raining, and when they run, they decide how far. Times have changed.” A further user directed their frustration at the NYRA as a whole, noting, “Sometimes NYRA could screw up a glass of water.”
Adding to the controversy is the recent appointment of a new head starter, who was hired from Churchill Downs in May 2025. This individual appears to be struggling in his new role, leading to further criticism: “NYRA is a disgrace to professional gambling, specifically racing! Their stewards have become a punchline.” One fan added, “Funny thing is… The head starter is a new hire (May 2025). NYRA lured him away from Churchill. Can’t make this up.”
The repeated errors and the associated financial impact are raising serious concerns about the overall competence of the NYRA and its handling of race scheduling and gate setup.