Located just two miles from the Bronx, the historic Yonkers Raceway at Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts carries on a racing tradition begun over 100 years ago. Founded in 1899 as the Empire City Track by William H. Clark’s Empire City Trotting Club, the half-mile dirt track was built for standardbred harness racing, a practice that continues to this day. On May 10th, Yonkers Raceway opens its barn doors for a behind-the-scenes tour like no other. Enter the raceway’s legendary paddock where harness racing’s premier horses await their turn to claim victory, get up close and personal with the horses while hearing from a world-class driver and harness racing expert. You will even get some tips on how to bet on the ponies while watching the races.
This free VIP experience is free for Untapped New York Insiders. Not an Insider yet? Become a member today and use code JOINUS to get your first month free.
Yonkers Raceway VIP Experience
Yonkers Raceway hosts twelve live harness races a night, five nights a week, year-round. Every race night nearly 100 horses from around the Tri-State area travel to the historic track to carry on the century-old racing tradition. Over the past 125 years, more than a million horses have raced at Yonkers Raceway, including legendary thoroughbreds like Triple Crown Winner Seabiscuit. During the heyday of the track in the 1970s, celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Ed Sullivan, famous athletes like Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Jack Dempsey, and even presidents including Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan frequented the races.
A new heyday is just around the corner for the raceway and accompanying Empire City Casino as MGM Resorts unveils plans for MGM Empire City, a revitalized version of the existing site. As it stands, Empire City Casino is one of the nation’s largest, with more than 5,000 slot machines spread out over a casino floor that covers 160,000 square feet. If granted a full-scale commercial license, the first phase of the renovation would include a comprehensive casino floor redevelopment and expansion that would transition the site from being a video lottery terminal racino to a full-scale commercial casino with live-dealer table games, the newest slot machines, and a high-limit gaming area.
The current food offerings would get a major upgrade and new dining experiences, such as a modern steakhouse and casual quick-serve Italian American experience, would be added. A new 5,000-capacity entertainment venue is in the plan alongside a state-of-the-art BetMGM Sportsbook & Lounge. The new design also calls for cocktail bars, lounges, technologically advanced meeting spaces, and more.
In honor of the Raceway’s 125th anniversary, MGM Resorts invested in major upgrades to the track that can be seen this racing season. According to Harnesslink, the track has been resurfaced with more than six thousand tons of recycled track material, new LED lighting has been added, and there is a new multiple display LED infield tote board.
Racing will continue to be part of Empire City even as other major changes are on the horizon. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate the Raceway’s historic anniversary!
Yonkers Raceway VIP Experience
Check out photos from our first Insider’s visit to the track!
See our full list of upcoming Untapped New York Insiders events!