After four years of planning, construction on Central New York Raceway Park, located north of Syracuse in Hastings, is now underway, and if entrepreneur Glenn Donnelly gets his way, the location will be the newest venue for live harness racing in New York State.
A report by Syracuse.com explains that the sprawling complex is expected to feature a 2.2-mile road course, a half-mile synthetic dirt oval track for harness and dirt car racing and a 15,000-seat grandstand. The plans also call for a 56-bay NASCAR-style garage and a five-story ‘command center’ that will include everything from a 300-seat restaurant to VIP suites. Offices and a video production studio have also been envisioned.
The article states that Donnelly would have to secure a harness racing licence from the state in order for live Standardbred racing to occur on the premises, but the 73-year-old has indicated that the facility’s main source of income will come from lease payments from high-end racers on the automotive side.
According to the report, Donnelly has said that he has applied to retain the last harness racing licence in the state, and that if he lands it he hopes to host live Standardbred racing in November of 2016.
(With files from Syracuse.com)
