Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts has announced the dates of several stakes races to be held at Yonkers Raceway. The previously scheduled races were interrupted earlier in the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have been rescheduled for later this year.
The MGM Borgata Pacing Series Final will be held on Nov. 28 with an estimated purse of $400,000 and a $100,000 consolation. There will be two preliminary legs in the series on Nov. 7 and Nov. 14, each carrying a $50,000 purse with no declaration fee. The first leg of the series had been drawn for March 14 before the racetrack was closed on March 10.
The Blue Chip Farms Matchmaker Series will also be held on Nov. 28 with an estimated $200,000 final and a $75,000 consolation. There will be two preliminary legs in the series on Nov. 6 and Nov. 13, each carrying a $40,000 purse with no declaration fee. The first leg of the series had been drawn for March 13 before the temporary closure of the track.
A total of 27 mares are eligible for the Blue Chip Matchmaker and 46 horses are eligible for the MGM Borgata Pacing Series.
Another Yonkers Raceway series that was interrupted in March was the M life Rewards for Ladies and Gents. The M life races have been rescheduled for July 20. The M life Rewards Ladies and Gents will both have a $60,000 final and $30,000 consolation. Final standings for the series are available online.
Due to travel restrictions and pandemic concerns around the world, the $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot, originally scheduled for Sept. 12, will not be held this year. The $250,000 trotting and pacing invitationals planned for that day are also canceled.
The Sept. 12 card will still feature more than $1.8 million in purses as part of the New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions, which will be comprised of eight $225,000 New York Sire Stakes Finals.
(Yonkers Raceway)