YR - $1.8 MILLION NEW YORK NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS DRAWN TUESDAY`

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS NY, Monday, September 17, 2012--Post positions are to be drawn Tuesday afternoon for Saturday's $1.8 million New York of Champions, proudly hosted by Yonkers Raceway.

Eight, $225,000 divisional finals--for 2- and 3-year-old of both sexes and gaits--comprise the richest night of racing in the state.

The 23rd edition of the Night of Champions has each of the races sponsored by a prominent Empire breeding farm or ownership group. This season's races include...

            --Kenneth J Syndicate LLC 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace;

            --Crawford Farms 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot;

            --Winbak Farm 2-Year-Old Filly Pace;

            --Morrisville College Equine Institute 2-Year-Old Filly Trot;

            --Blue Chip Farms 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace;

            --Allerage Farm 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot;

            --Cameo Hills Farm 3-Year-Old Filly Pace;

            --Stirling Brook Farms 3-Year-Old Filly Trot.

 

As always, this season's finalists have not only proven themselves up and down the Thruway (and various side roads) all the summer, but also in open stakes company. Leading the way is, of course, world-record Yonkers Trot winner Archangel. The 3-year-old colt was a perfect 5-for-5 against his statebred rivals during the sire stakes season.

Other divisional point leaders were Tirade Hanover (2YO trotting colts/geldings), Barn Babe (2YO trotting fillies),  Doctor Butch (2YO pacing colts/geldings), Summertime Lea (2YO pacing fillies), Fortunista (3YO trotting fillies), Forever Just (3YO pacing colts/geldings) and a "dead-heat" between Romantic Moment and Handsoffmycookie (3YO pacing fillies).

The Raceway continues its normal five-night-per-week live schedule, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule.