Finger Lakes Gaming and Race Track
Encyclopedia
Finger Lakes Gaming and Race Track is a thoroughbred
horse-racing track and racino
located in Farmington
in western New York State, approximately 25 miles southeast of Rochester
. The facility is about one mile south of New York State Thruway
exit 44.
,
Julie Krone
, and Bill Shoemaker.
The track as a seasonal business, holding races from spring to fall was financially hurt with the advent of Off Track Betting
in the 1980s.
Finger Lakes rebounded in the 1990s when simulcast
racing began. Under this system, patrons were able to attend the clubhouse year-round and wager on races at other tracks around the country.
In 2004, Finger Lakes Race Track became Finger Lakes Gaming and Race Track after a $10.5 million renovation. The largest part of the renovation was the addition of a racino
, which is a casino-style video gaming floor. Attendance rose at the facility after the introduction of the racino.
Ross Morton, a well-known race caller, was Finger Lakes' announcer from opening day until his death in February 2008. And Tin Cup Chalice
, the first winner of the Big Apple Triple Crown of Racing, made his home at Finger Lakes. Unfortunately, Tin Cup Chalice was killed on April 17, 2009 in a freak accident while training at the track. A colt named Zany bolted and collided with him and both horses died.
, a 1 1/16 mile restricted race for 3 year old horses who have been bred in the state of New York. Carrying a purse of $150,000, the race is a part of the Big Apple Triple, consisting of the Mike Lee Handicap
at Belmont Park
, the New York Derby, and the Albany Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
. The New York Derby race is typically run in July.
At this time, Finger Lakes Race Track does not offer any graded stakes. They do offer ungraded and restricted stakes throughout the meet.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse-racing track and racino
Racino
A racino is a combined race track and casino. In some cases, the gambling is limited to slot machines, but many locations are beginning to include table games such as blackjack, poker, and roulette....
located in Farmington
Farmington, New York
Farmington is a town located in the northern part of Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 10,585 at the 2000 census. Farmington is about twenty-five miles southeast of Rochester, New York...
in western New York State, approximately 25 miles southeast of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. The facility is about one mile south of New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
exit 44.
History
Finger Lakes Race Track opened on May 23, 1962 as a thoroughbred horse race track. The race track has gone through several ownership changes and a cycle of successful and near-bankrupt seasons. Famous jockeys that have ridden at Finger Lakes include Angel Cordero, Pat DayPat Day
Patrick Alan "Pat" Day is an American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991...
,
Julie Krone
Julie Krone
Julie Krone , is a retired American jockey. In 1993, she became the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race when she captured the Belmont Stakes aboard Colonial Affair...
, and Bill Shoemaker.
The track as a seasonal business, holding races from spring to fall was financially hurt with the advent of Off Track Betting
Off-track betting
Off-track betting refers to sanctioned gambling on horse racing outside a race track.-US history:...
in the 1980s.
Finger Lakes rebounded in the 1990s when simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
racing began. Under this system, patrons were able to attend the clubhouse year-round and wager on races at other tracks around the country.
In 2004, Finger Lakes Race Track became Finger Lakes Gaming and Race Track after a $10.5 million renovation. The largest part of the renovation was the addition of a racino
Racino
A racino is a combined race track and casino. In some cases, the gambling is limited to slot machines, but many locations are beginning to include table games such as blackjack, poker, and roulette....
, which is a casino-style video gaming floor. Attendance rose at the facility after the introduction of the racino.
Ross Morton, a well-known race caller, was Finger Lakes' announcer from opening day until his death in February 2008. And Tin Cup Chalice
Tin Cup Chalice
Tin Cup Chalice , was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who, in 2008, became the first New York-bred to win New York’s “OTB Big Apple Triple" of Racing: the Mike Lee Handicap, the New York Derby, and the Albany Stakes...
, the first winner of the Big Apple Triple Crown of Racing, made his home at Finger Lakes. Unfortunately, Tin Cup Chalice was killed on April 17, 2009 in a freak accident while training at the track. A colt named Zany bolted and collided with him and both horses died.
Feature Races
Finger Lakes is home to the New York DerbyNew York Derby
The New York Derby is the second leg of the "Big Apple Triple," a grouping of three races in New York state for New York breds. A horse who wins all three of the Big Apple Triple wins the purse total of $400,000 plus a $250,000 bonus. The first leg is the Mike Lee Handicap run at Belmont Park, and...
, a 1 1/16 mile restricted race for 3 year old horses who have been bred in the state of New York. Carrying a purse of $150,000, the race is a part of the Big Apple Triple, consisting of the Mike Lee Handicap
Mike Lee Handicap
The Mike Lee Handicap is the first leg of the "Big Apple Triple," a grouping of three races in New York state for New York breds. A horse who wins all three of the Big Apple Triple wins the purse total of $400,000 plus a $250,000 bonus. The second leg is the New York Derby held at Finger Lakes...
at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
, the New York Derby, and the Albany Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
. The New York Derby race is typically run in July.
At this time, Finger Lakes Race Track does not offer any graded stakes. They do offer ungraded and restricted stakes throughout the meet.
List of stakes races at Finger Lakes
- George W. Barker Handicap
- Susan B. Anthony Handicap
- Wadsworth Memorial HandicapWadsworth Memorial HandicapThe Wadsworth Memorial Handicap is a Thoroughbred race for three year olds and up of either gender set at a distance of one and one eighth miles on the dirt...
- Niagara Stakes
- New York DerbyNew York DerbyThe New York Derby is the second leg of the "Big Apple Triple," a grouping of three races in New York state for New York breds. A horse who wins all three of the Big Apple Triple wins the purse total of $400,000 plus a $250,000 bonus. The first leg is the Mike Lee Handicap run at Belmont Park, and...
- Ontario County Stakes
- Arctic Queen Handicap
- Leon Reed Memorial Handicap
- Jack Betta Be Rite Handicap
- New York Oaks
- Lady Fingers Stakes
- Aspirant Stakes
- Genesee Valley Breeders Handicap
- New York Breeders' FuturityNew York Breeders' FuturityThe New York Breeders' Futurity is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually since 1963 at the Finger Lakes Race Track in Farmington, New York. Restricted to two-year-old horses bred in New York State, the ungraded stakes is a six furlong sprint contested on dirt...
- Proud Puppy Handicap
- Finger Lakes Juvenile Fillies
- Finger Lakes Juvenile