BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Tuesday, November 4, 2014—Yonkers Raceway has drawn the first of its six Sunday
matinee racing programs. The half-dozen cards, running from Nov. 9th
to Dec. 14th, inclusive, replace five Tuesday nights (Nov. 11th
through Dec. 9th) and shall offer an 11 AM first post.
The
Sunday programs are going to be front-loaded with trotters, as the first five
races of each card—all added-distance (1¼ miles) with higher purses and oversized
fields (12, 12, 10, 10 and 10, respectively)--are simulcast to France.
Included in that quintet is a dozen-horse Open, which goes as the second race
during the 12-race dossier.
“We
brought up that we’d like to try it (simulcasting races to France), and they
have been very receptive to the idea,” Raceway COO Bob Galterio said. “It’s a
new venture for all of us, and we appreciate the cooperation of the horsemen,
the New York State Gaming Commission, the French PMU and our simulcast partners
who are taking these Sundays along with our usual nighttime races.”
The
overseas pool cannot be comingled, so the French betting won’t be included
here. Toward that end, Yonkers is altering the wagering format for some of the
early Sunday races.
Race 1 – no
triple
Race 2 – no
triple, no Pick 3
Race 3 – no
superfecta, no Pick 4
Race 4 – no Pick
3.
In an effort to
generate as much on-track interest as possible, Yonkers is doling out the
freebies, including…
…a free Sunday
live program with the purchase of a Saturday live program
(advance wagering for YR’s Sunday races is available all day Saturday).
…free Sunday
breakfast (egg sandwich and coffee) trackside between 10 AM-12 Noon.
…free
Sunday bets--a $2 daily double (races 1 & 2) and $1 exacta box (races 2, 3,
4 & 5)--to the first 200 existing (or newly-enrolled) Empire City Bets
members between 10 AM-11 AM (all tickets are “quick picks”). Also, there’s a
free promotional gift (while supplies last) and a chance to win dinner for two
at any of restaurants on premises.
Select
Empire City Bets members are eligible for a $10 bet/get for wagers made on the
first five “French” races.
