Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers Raceway
Name	Yonkers Raceway
Location	Yonkers, New York, United States
Opened	1899
Owner	MGM Resorts International (as of 2019)
Type	Harness racing track; racino

Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers Raceway is a harness racing track and pari-mutuel racino located in Yonkers, New York, near the Hudson River and adjacent to Westchester County landmarks. Established in the late 19th century, the venue became a focal point for Standardbred racing, regional entertainment, and later casino-style gaming. It has hosted nationally recognized events and contributed to the sporting and cultural fabric of Westchester County, attracting visitors from New York City, Connecticut, and surrounding states.

History

The facility opened in 1899 during an era when Belmont Park, Sheepshead Bay Race Track, and other northeastern venues were central to American racing. Early decades featured trotting competitions that mirrored developments at The Meadowlands and Freehold Raceway. During the 20th century, the track weathered changes in regulation tied to state-level pari-mutuel wagering reforms associated with the New York State Legislature and shifts in public entertainment driven by figures like William H. Vanderbilt era patrons. Postwar modernization paralleled construction projects such as the nearby Saw Mill River Parkway improvements and commuter expansions by Metro-North Railroad.

In the 1970s and 1980s Yonkers Raceway adapted to televised coverage trends established by CBS Sports and regional broadcasters, while regulatory oversight coordinated with the New York Racing Association and the New York State Gaming Commission (formerly the New York State Racing and Wagering Board). In the 21st century, the site was transformed into a racino after gaming legislation similar to that which supported Resorts World Casino New York City and Mohegan Sun operations enabled slot-style machines and electronic gaming. Ownership transitions involved regional operators and national casino corporations culminating in acquisition by a major hospitality company.

Facilities and Track Layout

The complex sits on an expansive parcel near the Hudson River Waterfront and adjacent to urban infrastructure connecting to Yonkers Downtown Waterfront. The signature one-mile harness oval follows Standardbred specifications like those used at Hambletonian Stakes venues. Facilities include grandstand seating, enclosed clubhouse dining areas similar to hospitality suites at Belmont Park, paddock and stabling complexes consistent with Standardbred breeding standards, and training yards comparable to those at Saratoga Race Course satellite barns.

The racino area incorporates slot and electronic gaming floors paralleling layouts at Empire City Casino and integrated resort venues such as Foxwoods Resort Casino. Backstretch facilities support race-day operations with veterinary exam rooms, farrier stations, and harness repair shops organized in the manner of professional stables associated with U.S. Trotting Association standards. Access infrastructure aligns with nearby transit nodes serving Yonkers station (Metro-North).

Racing and Events

Yonkers Raceway stages harness racing cards throughout the year, including nightly programs and feature stakes that draw competitors from circuits anchored by The Meadowlands Racetrack, Monticello Raceway, and Tioga Downs. Events have historically included major pacing and trotting stakes comparable in prestige to the Hambletonian weekend's supporting races, and seasonal series aligned with the calendar used by trainers who campaign in the Grand Circuit.

The venue has diversified event programming with concerts, trade shows, and community days similar to ancillary events at Saratoga Performing Arts Center and local festivals connected to Yonkers Arts Weekend. Televised and streaming broadcasts have linked the raceway to networks and platforms that cover harness racing such as Hoosier Park-style feeds and regional sports networks with production partnerships paralleling those at NBC Sports Regional Networks affiliates.

Ownership and Management

Over its history the property moved through municipal oversight, regional operators, and national gaming companies. Management structures followed corporate governance models comparable to those at MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and other large operators that manage integrated resorts and racinos. Executive oversight has coordinated with labor organizations, licensing authorities, and training committees similar to those associated with the U.S. Trotting Association.

Strategic decisions regarding capital improvements, gaming integration, and community relations were influenced by negotiations akin to those undertaken by operators at Resorts World Catskills and Del Lago Resort & Casino, including public-private dialogue with the Westchester County government and stakeholder groups representing horsemen, local businesses, and municipal planners.

Economic and Community Impact

The racetrack and racino have been significant employers in Yonkers, generating positions in hospitality, gaming, stable management, and maintenance similar to employment patterns observed at Monmouth Park and other racetracks. Revenues from pari-mutuel wagering and slot-style gaming contributed to municipal revenue-sharing arrangements analogous to agreements between casinos and the New York State Office of the State Comptroller.

Community initiatives have included charitable partnerships, educational outreach tied to Yonkers Public Schools, and neighborhood development projects coordinated with agencies like Westchester County Industrial Development Agency. The facility’s presence influenced real estate activity along the waterfront redevelopment corridors, comparable to urban renewal efforts seen in cities such as Jersey City and Providence, Rhode Island.

Notable Horses, Drivers, and Records

Throughout its history the track has showcased elite Standardbreds campaigned by trainers and drivers who also compete at national venues such as Hambletonian Society events and United States Trotting Association-sanctioned stakes. Prominent drivers and trainers with appearances at the track mirror figures who have raced at The Meadowlands and Woodbine Racetrack. Several track records for trotters and pacers were set during marquee cards, reflecting performance benchmarks maintained in industry record books overseen by organizations like the U.S. Trotting Association and historical registries comparable to the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame.

Category:Horse racing venues in New York (state)