While New York’s Election Day isn’t until November 2, some of the year’s most competitive legislative races were contested on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 28 at Yonkers Raceway.
Under the tutelage and on-track mentoring by some of the nation’s top drivers, 12 members of the State’s Assembly and Senate competed against one another in double-seated race carts over the legendary Hilltop Over in the annual MGM Yonkers-Standardbred Owners Association of New York Legislative Pace. The event provides legislators with the opportunity to experience racing first-hand and learn more about a racing and agriculture industry that creates tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue in New York State each year.
In the first heat, the venerable J. Gary Pretlow (Mount Vernon), longtime Chairperson of the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee, nosed out a win with a come-from-behind performance.
The second heat saw Assembly Member Joe DeStefano (Medford) emerge victorious with a very professional looking drive.
The final heat went to hometown favorite Nader Sayegh (Yonkers), Chairperson of the Assembly Subcommittee on Students with Special Needs, as well as a member of the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee.
In The Legislative Pace Final, DeStefano distanced Pretlow and Sayegh to capture this year’s top racing honour.
After the contests, SOA President Joseph Faraldo thanked the legislators assembled and their colleagues for all they do to keep harness racing viable in New York, thus supporting not only the sport and the intertwined state agriculture industry, but also the coffers of the state treasury. He also thanked the professional drivers who volunteered in the races for their efforts to get the legislators around the track safely.
(SOA of NY)