RACEWAY CELEBRATES MILESTONE 125TH ANNIVERSARY

Historic photos of Yonkers Raceway, including a packed, celebrity-filled crowd taking in a night at the races. Photo courtesy of Yonkers Raceway at Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts.

Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts in Yonkers celebrates a major milestone this year as the historic Yonkers Raceway marks its 125th anniversary. Founded in 1899 as William H. Clark’s Empire City Trotting Club, the half-mile standardbred harness racing dirt track was originally called “Empire City Race Track.” Since then, the now world-renowned venue has provided many notable moments throughout its 125-year history. Today, Yonkers Raceway is among the most popular harness racing tracks in the world and holds more races per year than any other track known.

Over one million horses have graced the track at Yonkers Raceway throughout its long and storied history. Though originally built for harness racing, thoroughbred racing was brought to the track in 1907 and continued until 1943. The legendary champion thoroughbred racehorse and 1938 American Horse of the Year, Seabiscuit, won a purse of $7,300 at the Scarsdale Handicap, setting a new record at the 1936 Yonkers Raceway event. It has been said that Seabiscuit won more stake races at Yonkers Raceway than at any other racetrack.

Celebrities are no strangers to Yonkers Raceway, however. Throughout the years, the track has welcomed famous musicians, politicians and athletes, including Frank Sinatra, Ed Sullivan, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Jack Dempsey, along with former U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.

More than five years ago in the form of an investment in the future of the track, MGM Resorts acquired Empire City and Yonkers Raceway and has since continued to support the historic venue by investing more than $1 million to enhance the entire racing experience.

“MGM Resorts is proud to celebrate this historic milestone as the stewards of the legendary Yonkers Raceway. We have continued making significant investments in our facility over the last several years and promoting the sport of harness racing through showcasing cornerstone events such as the New York Sire Stakes Finals and the MGM Yonkers International Trot,” said Ed Domingo, president and COO of Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts.

The horse racing industry in the Empire State contributes more than $3 billion to the state economy and supported more than 20,000 jobs in 2023, according to a recent study by the American Horse Council.