Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers
Raceway is one of the East Coast’s most popular harness racing
facilities. Located at Central and Yonkers Avenues, Yonkers, New
York, it has been the home of the historic Empire City Trotting
Club since 1899. It is still one of today’s most preeminent
attractions in the tri-state area.
Yonkers
Raceway hosts the annual New York Night of Champions which is
the culmination of the multi-million-dollar New York Sires Stakes
(NYSS) program. The race showcases the "best of the best" among
2- and 3-year olds of both sexes and gaits. The New York Night
of Champions began at Yonkers Raceway in 1991 and has been hosted
there ever since.
A Brief History of Yonkers Raceway
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In
1899, the track opened as Empire City Trotting Club. It was
built at a cost of US $780,000 by copper magnate William
H. Clark and grocery tycoon James Butler; the actual construction
was done by Seth Griffin. Opening day, September 4, drew
12,000 patrons. |
| • |
The
track was dark from 1900 to 1906 but reopened in 1907 offering
thoroughbred racing. It would become a fixture up to 1942.
Major stakes such as the Empire City and Westchester Handicaps
attracted the top runners of the era, including Seabiscuit,
Discovery, and Questionnaire. |
| • |
Pari-mutuel
wagering was legalized in 1940. The Westchester track was
enlarged and improved at a cost of $600,000. A new building
for pari-mutuel machines was created at the end of the grandstand. |
| • |
Harness
racing returned in 1943, where the Hambletonian was held
that year. Volo Song, with Ben White at the controls, won
the prestigious event. |
| • |
In
1950, the track took on major renovations under direction
of William H. Cane, the 'Father of the Hambletonian'. The
facility was renamed Yonkers Raceway. A half-mile oval replaced
its one-mile predecessor. The venue reopened April 27, 1950
to 21,178 patrons who wagered $688,009. Yonkers achieved
the first $1 million handle in trotting history on May 20,
1950. Crowds averaged 14,766 and wagered $688,335 per night
over 73 programs that year. |
| • |
In
1954, Yonkers Raceway became the first harness facility to
top $2 million in handle in a single night. |
| • |
In
1955, the Trotting Triple Crown originated with the Yonkers
Trot. The Trot conceived to complement the Hambletonian and
Kentucky Futurity. The first Cane Pace was also held in that
same year. |
| • |
In
1962, Yonkers Raceway became the first harness track to top
the $3 million handle mark for a single night. It achieved
this mark on the night of November 30. A crowd of 35,677
wagered an amazing $3,191,020 on that unforgettable evening. |
| • |
On
December 15, 1969, Yonkers Raceway achieved its highest ever
single-night handle -- $3,220,686. |
| • |
In
1990, the 'Hubless Rail' consisting of two-foot Styrofoam
pylons, was installed at Yonkers on September 10. |
| • |
In
1993, Silver Almahurst (Jim Morrill Jr.) set a world record
on a half-mile track by capturing the George Morton Levy
Memorial Final on April 24 in a sizzling 1:50:4. American
Winner (Ron Pierce) set a new Yonkers Trot record on July
10 by capturing the first jewel in the Trotting Triple Crown
in 1:56:2. This mark also set a new Yonkers Raceway track
record. On August 14, the USA's Giant Force captured the
35th International Trot in 2:27, a world record for the mile
and 1/4 distance. |
| • |
In
1996, Yonkers Raceway "stretched the stretch",
elongating the homestretch by 50 percent from 440 feet to
its present 660 feet. |
| • |
In
1997, Yonkers Raceway underwent a dramatic facelift. That
same year, Western Dreamer won the Raceway's final Cane Pace
en route to capturing the sport's first Pacing Triple Crown
since Ralph Hanover some 14 years earlier. |
| • |
In
1998, driver Walter Case Jr. won 978 races at Yonkers, smashing
the record for the most wins by one driver at one track in
a single year. Case's 1,076 total wins also set a single-season
standard. |
| • |
In
1999, Yonkers Raceway celebrated its centennial with grand
festivities. |
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