Ever since Yonkers Raceway announced plans to bring back the International Trot on October 10, 2015 – with a $1 million purse – interest has been very strong from trotting owners and trainers around the globe.
The Yonkers Raceway race office has been in contact with the connections of top New Zealand trotter Stent. The altered son by Dream Vacation out of Belle Galleon by Chiola Hanover has amassed 28 wins and 17 seconds in 61 lifetime starts with earnings of more than $1.1 million.
Stent is owned by Trevor Casey and co-trained by Colin and Julie DeFilippi and driven by Colin DeFilippi. Stent has raced at distances ranging from 1,609 meters to 2,800 metres in both Grade 1 and Grade 2 races on his home New Zealand soil and in some of Australia’s most prestigious trotting events.
The International Trot will be held at a one mile and one quarter distance at Yonkers Raceway, which is approximately 2,000 meters.
Reports are also beginning to surface from Europe on possible participants who are just now leaving the breeding shed to start their traditional mid-July preparations for the upcoming Masters Season. A possible trip to the US for the International Trot and/or the Breeders Crown can still leave time for European trotters to return home and prepare for the Prix d’Amerique in Paris in January.
Yonkers Raceway is planning a week-long celebration for the International Trot, with several New York-themed events for invited participants and their guests. Details about on track events for October 10 are still being finalized.
The SOA of NY is working closely with Yonkers track management to help make the return of the International Trot a success. Yonkers’ race secretary, Steve Starr, will have a large task ahead of him as he sorts through the international contenders and puts together a star-studded global field, with a million-dollar pot of gold on the line and international bragging rights for one country’s breeding program.
(SOA of NY)