MGM Yonkers Raceway is in the midst of a six-day week as Saturday racing is back at the Hilltop oval starting on May 3.
While the track is live this Wednesday, April 30, Wednesdays will become a dark day starting next week, putting the track on a Monday/Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday schedule through the remainder of the summer.
The new racing schedule is headlined by several stakes events, starting with the Grade 1 $516,000 USD MGM Borgata Pacing Series final and the Grade 1 $490,000 USD Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final on Friday, May 9. Both races will also have consolation events on the same card. Those eligible to each of the stakes events will have a chance to compete for $50,000 USD in three tests (two for the boys and one for the girls) on Monday, May 5 at the distance of a mile and a quarter.
"We just had so many eligibles that I wanted to create one more opportunity for them to make a little money,” said Joe Frasure, Racing Secretary, on the added “eligible” races.
The Grand Circuit will come back to Yonkers in June with eliminations (if necessary) for the Grade 2 MGM Yonkers Trot and Grade 2 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes on Friday, June 20, and the finals the following Friday. The companion filly races -- the Grade 3 Park MGM Pace and Grade 3 New York New York Mile -- will also occur on the 27th.
Last, but certainly not least, the Grade 1 $1 million USD MGM Yonkers International Trot, Grade 2 Aria Invitational Pace and Grade 2 Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot are slated for Saturday, Sept. 13.
New York Sire Stakes action will also be on the docket throughout the summer, starting on Thursday, June 19 with the first leg for two-year-old male pacers.
First race post time at Yonkers remains at 6:45 p.m.
(Yonkers Raceway)