The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced that starting September 1, all wagers on NYRA races will be paid to the penny, replacing the previous tiered breakage system that rounded down payouts and retained the difference. This change, supported by NYRA and authorized by legislation signed by Governor Kathy Hochul as part of the FY 2026 state budget, aims to return more money to horseplayers and aligns New York with Washington and Kentucky, the only other states to eliminate breakage. The budget also includes funding for equine safety research and simplifies the racing tax code to support the sport’s growth.

Additionally, the New York State Gaming Commission has adopted new rules to largely eliminate coupling entries for horses with shared ownership, increasing the number of individual betting interests in over 150 NYRA races annually. NYRA is currently wrapping up its 2025 summer meet at Saratoga with Fan Appreciation Week, offering special promotions on tickets and hospitality through September 1. More details are available at NYRA.com/Fans.