Apparently, all that was missing from Yonkers Raceway’s ‘French-centric’ trots were the French. That small detail will get rectified this Sunday afternoon (March 20), with the inaugural Drivers’ Cup.
Five of Yonkers’ leading drivers will battle five of France’s finest in a four-race, transatlantic competition. It begins with Race 2 and Race 4 at Yonkers, with those events included among the seven races simulcast to the French-hubbed audience.
‘The Cup’ will then conclude with two races at Vincennes (Paris), one each Friday, June 24, and Sunday, June 26.
It was blind dates all around, as all trotter/driver pairings were done completely at random. Yonkers is represented by Jason Bartlett (captain), Tyler Buter, Dan Dube, Pat Lachance and Jordan Stratton. France’s roster includes Pierre Vercruysse (captain), Matthieu Abrivard, Nicolas Ensch, Pierre Levesque and Franck Ouvrie.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Buter said. “It’s an honour to be part of Yonkers’ team and I hope things work out well for us.”
Monsieur Lachance, on the other hand, was a bit more matter-of-fact. Asked if he had any advice for the visitors, he responded with a succinct “no,” adding, “I want to win.”
First post Sunday is 1:10 p.m., with the first seven races going at half-hour intervals.
(Yonkers Raceway)