Schenectady, NY — The New York Sire Stakes administration has released the protocols for NYS County Fair racing, which are now posted on the NYSS website here.

These protocols pertain to health precautions and provide a framework for consistency from fair to fair. However, individual fairs and localities may have additional requirements. The NYSS administration recommends all participants review and familiarize themselves in advance with these protocols so they can ensure compliance on race day.

In addition, the NYSS administration has made available a COVID-19 screening and acknowledgement questionnaire, which is required at each county fair for entrance. The NYSS administration recommends all participants print and complete the questionnaire in advance. This will speed entry to the fairgrounds.

Please note this year there is a new procedure to handle current Coggins and Rabies certificates. The NYSS administration strongly encourages participants to send proof of current Coggins and Rabies for each horse to the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund in advance so they can be recorded in the U.S. Trotting Association system if they are not already. They may also be recorded by the race office at your local pari-mutuel track. If this is done, participants will not have to routinely show these documents at each fair to help limit contact at the race office.

The fairgrounds will receive a report of those horses with current documents on file; all others will still be required to produce documents upon entry to the fairgrounds. Even when documents are recorded, it is required that horses travel with current proof of Coggins and Rabies and will be subject to random document checks at the fairgrounds. Be prepared to provide when requested.

Send current Coggins and Rabies to the Fund by email to kelly.young@gaming.ny.gov or by fax to 518.388.2791. The horse’s name, test date and lab where the test was conducted must be clearly visible. Include your contact information if there are any questions.

Participants are reminded that all entries for New York County Fair series are made through the NY County Fair entry hotline at 518.388.0964 or online through the USTA. Entries for all overnight events should be made by calling the fair race secretary directly. This number is included on the condition sheet. The condition sheet for the Chenango County/Afton Fair, scheduled on July 9, is available on the NYSS website. The box closes at 10 a.m. on Saturday (July 4).

For the 2020 County Fair racing schedule, go to nysirestakes.com. If you have any questions, contact the NYSS office at 518.388.0178.

To receive the latest updates from the New York Sire Stakes, you are encouraged to register for the newly implemented NYSS text alert system, which sends updates directly to your phone. To receive updates from NYSS via text message text “NYSS” to 31996. International numbers text “NYSS INT” to 833.498.1158.