YONKERS,
NY, Thursday, April 24, 2014 – Yonkers Raceway’s million-dollar, stakes-laden
Saturday night program shall also include military veterans demonstrating some
newly-acquired horsemanship skills.
The
veterans, accompanied by trainer Robbie Siegelman, are going to lead the post
parades for the first few races on the12-race card, which features the $567,000
final of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series and the $371,400 final
of the Blue Chip Matchmaker.
After their first taste of
“catch-driving, “ the veterans, with the family and friends, are going to make
winner’s circle presentations before enjoying the remainder of the evening at
the races.
Prior to the 7:10 PM first post,
a half-dozen Yonkers Police Department are going to present colors and perform
the national anthem.
The special event is a
culmination of efforts by Siegelman, a long-time successful New York-area
trainer, HorseAbility of Old Westbury, NY, the Standardbred Owners Association
of NY and Yonkers Raceway. Siegelman is a volunteer at HorseAbility, a
Old Westbury, NY-based therapeutic center which offers a wide range of
equine-related programs to children and adults with special needs.
As part of the HorseAbility For
Heroes program, Siegelman teaches military veterans and their families to jog
Standardbred horses. Last year, the Standardbred Owners Association of
NY, the Yonkers’ horsemen’s organization, donated a special jog cart to the
program that accommodates the disabled.
“I have always felt the
importance of giving back to the community, and being able to do that through
the sport that I love is a tremendous bonus,” Siegelman
said.
“Developing the therapeutic
driving program with HorseAbility and working with the veterans has been such a
personally rewarding experience. I am grateful to Yonkers Raceway and the
SOA of NY for making it possible to honor these men and women, and their
families, who have sacrificed a great deal in service of our country.”
To learn more, please visit www.HorseAbility.org.
