The New York Racing Association held its second public forum Monday, Aug. 26, providing an opportunity for its customers to speak directly to the association’s management. The first public forum was held at Belmont Park in June.

The June meeting was commandeered by a local union, which sent representatives not employed by NYRA to challenge acrimoniously the status of the association’s contract with cleaners, program sellers, and security officers. Likely as a result of that meeting, participants in last night’s forum were required to register and submit questions ahead of time.

The Monday evening forum took place at the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame and was moderated by Eric Wing, NYRA’s director of communications and media relations. Taking questions from the public were Chris Kay, NYRA president and CEO; David O’Rourke, vice president of corporate development; P.J. Campo, vice president and director of racing; Glen Kozak, vice president of facilities and racing surfaces; and Patrick Mahoney, senior vice president of pari-mutuel operations.

Based on the questions submitted, local residents are concerned primarily with the amount of racing at Saratoga Race Course; about the quality of the technology available at the track; and about the future of the facilities at not just Saratoga, but also at Belmont, and Aqueduct Racetrack.

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