The most significant political race of the season is on the horizon, and it’s not a gubernatorial debate.

A dozen elected officials – members of the New York State Assembly and Senate from Westchester, Long Island and New York’s five boroughs – will go behind the starting gate at Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway in the annual Legislators’ Challenge Pace this Saturday (October 11).

As part of the sixth annual Fall Harvest Festival, the heated political battle over the historic half-mile Yonkers oval consists of participants literally taking the driver’s seat and competing against each other in three non-wagering harness races, with some help from professional harness drivers. Post time is 5:30 p.m.

Here’s the lineup for the Sixth Annual Legislators’ Challenge Pace; New York State Assembly: Michael Benedetto (District 82, Bronx), Michael DenDekker (District 34, Queens); Andrew Garbarino (District 7, Bayport), Francisco Moya (District 39, Queens), J. Gary Pretlow (District 89, Mt. Vernon), Andrew Raia (District 12, Northport), Joseph Saladino (District 9, Massapequa Park), Michaelle Solages (District 22, Valley Stream), Keith Wright (District 70, Manhattan); New York State Senate: Martin Malave Dilan (District 18, Brooklyn), Ruth Hassell-Thompson (District 36, Bronx/Westchester), and Kevin Parker (District 21, Brooklyn).

“The Legislators' Challenge Pace has become a much-anticipated annual event among racing fans, residents statewide, and of course, our incredibly competitive state legislators,” said Tim Rooney Jr., general counsel at Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway. “But for us, this is just a fun-filled way to remind the elected officials and residents who support us, that not only have we contributed over $2 billion to the state’s education funds, we’ve also helped revitalize the horse racing and agricultural industries across the state.”

Empire City’s sixth annual Fall Harvest Festival is a free, family-fun event held on the track apron and showcases the thriving relationship between horse racing and agriculture all across New York State. The event will take place trackside on Saturday (October 11) from 4-8 p.m.

The community event includes pony rides, face painting, a pumpkin patch, musical entertainment and more. Those over age 21 will enjoy this year’s newly added Beer Garden offering a large selection of New York State craft beer, along with a Wing Tent that will tempt attendees with a variety of recipes and flavours. Festival goers will be able to vote for their favourite wing flavour and the winning recipe will be featured on the menu of the trackside restaurant, Empire Terrace. Of course, a full card of harness races is also part of the evening with the first post time at 7:10 p.m.

(Yonkers)