 Newsletter Signup
Stay informed with the
NEW Casino City Times newsletter! Related Links
Related News
|
Gaming News
Yonkers Raceway begins 127th racing season28 January 2026(PRESS RELEASE) -- Yonkers Raceway marks the beginning of its historic 127th racing season as Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts unveils a schedule featuring 236 race days, more than any other racetrack in the country. Fans can enjoy live harness races five days a week at the renowned half-mile track, with more than 80 equine athletes competing nightly. Season highlights include the first five weeks of the prestigious Blue Chip Matchmaker Series and the MGM Borgata Pacing Series Final on Friday, May 8, along with the highly anticipated MGM Yonkers Trot on Friday, 26 June. The climax of the season arrives on Saturday, 12 September, featuring the MGM International Trot and New York Sire Stakes Day of Champions. With more than $50 million in purses set for 2026, Yonkers Raceway continues to be a leader in racing purse payouts. New elements in effect for the 2026 racing season include an earlier post time of 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and a new rule prohibiting drivers from setting 30-second, second quarters - both aimed at further enhancing the racing experience for fans and drivers. Since opening in 1899 as Empire City Racetrack, the legendary venue has hosted generations of notable visitors and witnessed many memorable moments. Over the decades, celebrities, political leaders, and athletes, including Frank Sinatra, Ed Sullivan, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and Mickey Mantle, have been among those drawn to Yonkers Raceway. The legendary champion thoroughbred Seabiscuit won the Scarsdale Handicap at the track in the 1930s during Yonkers Raceway’s brief thoroughbred racing era. In recent years, the track has welcomed high-profile visitors, such as former UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira, who competed against Harness Hall of Famer Driver Tim Tetrick in an exhibition race, taking home the win. Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, an avid harness racing fan, made a surprise visit, underscoring Yonkers Raceway’s enduring appeal as a premier destination for harness racing enthusiasts worldwide. “Across generations, horse racing fans have come to Yonkers Raceway to experience world-class harness racing and the excitement of elite competition,” said Jonathan ‘Joe’ Frasure Jr, race secretary at Yonkers Raceway at Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts. “By offering the richest purses in the country, we continue to attract drivers, trainers and owners from across the Northeast to compete at Yonkers. The new in-house rule and the earlier Saturday post time are part of our ongoing efforts to deliver a stronger racing product for our participants, fans, and visitors.” Since MGM Resorts acquired Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway in 2019, the track has undergone more than $1 million in upgrades. These modernization efforts include resurfacing the track with more than 6,000 tons of recycled track material, enhancing the horse paddock, installing state-of-the-art LED lighting, and adding a multi-display LED infield tote board to provide fans with an enhanced race-day experience. |