YONKERS, NY, Monday, October 6,
2014—The most significant political race of the season is on the horizon, and
it’s not a gubernatorial debate. A dozen elected officials – members of the New
York State Assembly and Senate from Westchester, Long Island and New York’s
five boroughs – will go behind the starting gate at Empire City Casino at
Yonkers Raceway in the annual Legislators’ Challenge Pace this Saturday (Oct.
11th).
As part of the Sixth Annual Fall
Harvest Festival, the heated political battle over the historic half-mile
Yonkers oval consists of participants literally take the driver’s seat and
competing against each other in three non-wagering harness races, with some
help from professional harness drivers. Post time is 5:30 PM.
Here’s the lineup for the Sixth
Annual Legislators’ Challenge Pace; New York State Assembly: Michael Benedetto
(District 82, Bronx), Michael DenDekker (District 34, Queens); Andrew Garbarino
(District 7, Bayport), Francisco Moya (District 39, Queens), J. Gary
Pretlow (District 89, Mt. Vernon), Andrew Raia (District 12, Northport), Joseph
Saladino (District 9, Massapequa Park), Michaelle Solages (District 22, Valley
Stream), Keith Wright (District 70, Manhattan); New York State Senate:
Martin Malave Dilan (District 18, Brooklyn), Ruth Hassell-Thompson (District
36, Bronx/Westchester), and Kevin Parker (District 21, Brooklyn).
“The Legislators' Challenge Pace
has become a much-anticipated annual event among racing fans, residents
statewide, and of course, our incredibly competitive state legislators,” said
Tim Rooney, Jr., general counsel at Empire City Casino at Yonkers
Raceway. “But for us, this is just a fun-filled way to remind the elected
officials and residents who support us, that not only have we contributed over
$2 billion to the state’s education funds, we’ve also helped revitalize the
horse racing and agricultural industries across the state.”
Empire City’s sixth annual Fall
Harvest Festival is a free, family-fun event held on the track apron and
showcases the thriving relationship between horse racing and agriculture all
across New York State. The event takes place trackside Saturday (Oct. 11) from
4-8 PM
The community event includes
pony rides, face painting, a pumpkin patch, musical entertainment and more.
Those over age 21 will enjoy this year’s newly added Beer Garden offering a
large selection of New York State craft beer, along with a Wing Tent that will
tempt attendees with a variety of recipes and flavors. Festival goers will be
able to vote for their favorite wing flavor and the winning recipe will be
featured on the menu of the trackside restaurant, Empire Terrace. Of course, a
full card of harness races is also part of the evening with the first post time
at 7:10 PM.
