Yonkers Raceway Kicks Off Landmark 125th Season

YONKERS, NY — More than a century after the first horses raced around the historic Yonkers Raceway, the track's 125th season is underway.

The milestone season begins at the Yonkers Raceway on Monday as Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts announces the racing schedule for the upcoming 2024 season at the storied half-mile harness track.

Since opening in 1899 as Empire City Racetrack, the legendary track has been home to many memorable moments. Celebrities, notable politicians and athletes, including Frank Sinatra, Ed Sullivan, Mickey Mantle, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan frequented Yonkers Raceway.

The legendary champion thoroughbred racehorse Seabiscuit even won a purse of $7,300 at the Scarsdale Handicap at the track in the 1930s when the track was briefly a thoroughbred track.

The 2024 racing schedule includes 240 days of racing, more than any other track in the country.

"For 125 years, generations of horse racing fans have visited Yonkers Raceway to enjoy a world-class sports product," Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts President Ed Domingo said. "As we continue to invest in Yonkers Raceway, we look forward to an exciting and historic 2024 season to celebrate not just the track’s 125th anniversary but the incredible five years since MGM Resorts became the steward of this iconic sports venue."

Over 80 horses will compete nightly, five days per week, running from Monday, January 22, through December 21.

Season highlights will include the first five legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series beginning on March 15, the MGM Borgata Pacing Series beginning March 18, the $300,000 MGM Yonkers Trot and the MGM Grand Messenger on Friday, June 21, with eliminations on Friday, June 28, and of course, the world-famous MGM Yonkers International Trot scheduled for Saturday, September 7, with eight New York Sire Stakes finals also taking place that same day.

The MGM Yonkers Raceway will pay out over $50 million in purses in 2024, more than any racetrack in the world, according to MGM Resorts.

There have been a lot of changes at the iconic track since it first opened its doors when William McKinley was in the White House.

And there have been a lot of changes since MGM Resorts took over operations the raceway in 2018.

MGM Resorts has invested over a million dollars in track renovations. Those renovations include resurfacing the track with more than six-thousand tons of recycled track material, the installation of all new-LED lighting, raising the turns by as much as a foot and a new multiple display LED infield tote board. The upgraded infield tote board's multiple display allows racing fans at Yonkers Raceway to see broadcasts of the live action on the infield board.

The most recent upgrade came over the holiday break with a nearly quarter million investment to upgrade the horse paddock.

MGM Resorts has also invested in its racing team members and management. At the helm of the track’s leadership are four industry veterans, including Racing Director Alex Dadoyan, Race Secretary Jonathan "Joe" Frasure Jr. and Assistant Race Secretary Rich Mattei. The trio brings years of combined harness racing leadership experience to Yonkers Raceway. The raceway also has a new Track Superintendent, Ed Angell, who joined in Spring 2023.

Empire Terrace, the trackside restaurant, will be available for dining on select race days throughout the season where harness racing fans and families around the region can enjoy a night at the races.

More information about Yonkers Raceway, the MGM Yonkers International Trot and MGM Resorts, can be found here.