Yonkers Raceway, New York Thoroughbred horse racing facility opened in 1899 that became Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers Raceway is a harness racing venue in Yonkers, New York, built around an oval dirt track with open seating areas and viewing spaces. The grounds also include betting windows, restaurants, a food court, bars, and a large casino with slot machines.
The venue was founded in the late 1800s as the Empire City Trotting Club, making it one of the oldest racing grounds in the region. Over the following decades, the site was renovated several times while keeping harness racing at its core.
The name Yonkers Raceway comes from the city of Yonkers, where the venue sits. Visitors watch the races together from the stands and talk over their bets, giving the place a social feel that has drawn local families for generations.
Arriving early is a good idea on busy evenings, as parking can fill up fast. The grounds are easy to reach by car and offer accessible facilities for visitors with reduced mobility.
Yonkers Raceway was among the first venues in the US to add a casino to a racetrack, a model that influenced many similar sites across the country. The slot machines here are officially called Video Lottery Terminals, a legal distinction that shaped how gambling was introduced at racing venues nationwide.
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