The New York Racing Association, which is considering hiring a bankruptcy attorney, is hitting up Saratoga Race Course season-ticket holders with price increases despite NYRA's uncertain future.

Without state approval, the new prices were released in letters from NYRA this week and include a $460 cost for a clubhouse seat, up $90 from this summer.

NYRA would also redefine the weekday rates to exclude Fridays, which would be part of the higher weekend rate. Most season-ticket holders buy more than one seat.

"It's really, I think, a very modest increase," said NYRA's Bill Nader, who's part of new management trying to turn the long-troubled private entity around.

He said the letters sent to season-ticket holders this week are not part of NYRA's urgent plans to raise millions of dollars to tide the association over until spring, when racing revenues increase. Those plans include the sale of property near Aqueduct race track and the sale of historic racing paintings.

After predicting insolvency by the end of November, NYRA officials now say they believe they can remain solvent until fall. That's when video slot machines will open at Aqueduct providing a windfall in revenue for the association.

NYRA runs New York thoroughbred racing under a state franchise due to expire Dec. 31, 2007. The franchise could be awarded to one of NYRA's competitors if NYRA dissolves.

NYRA is talking with a major bankruptcy law firm, but hasn't hired a bankruptcy attorney, Nader said.

"We will insist under any structure that those tickets are honored at the Saratoga meet," he said. "The only thing that could work to the disadvantage of the customer would be if there was no Saratoga meet, and a summer without Saratoga would be like a December without Christmas. It's not going to happen."

NYRA is supposed to report all financial decisions to a new state oversight board created by Gov. George Pataki. The board was created amid corruption and mismanagement accusations by state and federal officials.

"We weren't aware of this (price increase) and everything related to their finances will have to be subject to the board and its approval," said oversight board spokesman Scott Reif.