SARATOGA SPRINGS – The New York Racing Association, which at one point had “borrowed” $13.5 million from the horsemen’s purse account to pay operating expenses, has fully restored those funds, the NYRA announced yesterday. The account now stands at $16.9 million.

“This is the best news possible to come out of NYRA,” acting co-COO Steve Duncker said. “It’s the biggest problem we had, and I’m happy to see it’s behind us.”

Duncker credited the N.Y. Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, the State Racing & Wagering Board, and the “federal monitor” – the firm of Getnick & Getnick, appointed by the government to oversee the troubled racing association’s operations following a federal indictment last December – for working together “for the good of the industry to help NYRA make this goal a reality.”

Duncker said changes in the way NYRA markets its simulcast signal helped make up the shortfall, although he did not offer specifics.

“We’ve been chipping away all year,” he said. “A lot of it has to do with running NYRA better. Expenses are down, and revenues are up.”