If Yonkers ends harness racing

[kantseeback]

What possible piece of the 400k nightly handle a few days a week would make it worth dirtying up their big new rebuilt plant?
Will never happen.

[Checked Up]

Shouldn't the question have been WHEN Yonkers closes....!

[dougie]

As someone who grew up in Brooklyn and went to Yonkers many times, "Old Hilltop" had some amazing crowds during it's "heyday". Some legends of the game too! But that was about 40 years ago, and the sport has changed. The "New" Belmont would have to be "stark raving crazy" to ever allow harness racing into their new facility.

[MIKE CAMPBELL]

As someone who grew up in Brooklyn and went to Yonkers many times, "Old Hilltop" had some amazing crowds during it's "heyday". Some legends of the game too! But that was about 40 years ago, and the sport has changed. The "New" Belmont would have to be "stark raving crazy" to ever allow harness racing into their new facility.

I saw Bret Hanover as a teenager there in 1965. It was beautiful.

[rainman2]

A lot of horsemen might starve and/or move their trade elsewhere for less money, traveling farther to race, and being the outsiders invading, instead of having home court advantage!!

[dougie]

MIKE CAMPBELL.....like me, you remember the great moments at "Old Hilltop". It also proves. like me, you're old! LOL!

[Harness Racing Revolution]

A lot of horsemen might starve and/or move their trade elsewhere for less money, traveling farther to race, and being the outsiders invading, instead of having home court advantage!!

Check out Yonkers top 20 trainers right now. How many would you consider actual "horsemen"?

[dougie]

rainman 2.....I think that pretty much sums it up. If you remember when Pompano closed, some actually got out of the biz.

[MIKE CAMPBELL]

MIKE CAMPBELL.....like me, you remember the great moments at "Old Hilltop". It also proves. like me, you're old! LOL!

Yes I am but I guess it is better than the alternative.

[dougie]

MIKE CAMPBELL.....I agree 100%!!!!!

[Calhoun]

wow

as Petrelli said--NYRA doesn't want that garbage on their property

mainly--this would involve switching the surface back and forth and that's not cheap--

the tapeta is not a sure thing


I highly doubt the tbred big boys would allow that type of operating, jeopardizing multi million dollar horses just because that would allow a dead industry conduct racing there

YR handles about $400k--why not have Monticello racing there instead-they handle more

what dates would the tbred guys sacrifice to allow drug infested Yonkers guys race and steal welfare money?

Maybe there's room?

New Belmont Track/Course sizes:

Main Dirt: 1.5 miles
Turf:  1 5/16
Inner Turf: 1 3/16
Synthetic: 1 mile
Dirt Training: 7/8

Let's put a 5/8 inside

It will be awesome.

[Papillon]

Maybe there's room?

New Belmont Track/Course sizes:

Main Dirt: 1.5 miles
Turf:  1 5/16
Inner Turf: 1 3/16
Synthetic: 1 mile
Dirt Training: 7/8

Let's put a 5/8 inside

It will be awesome.

the rumors over a decade ago had the training track as the only possibility for harness racing

I am sincerely hoping they don't install a Tapeta surface--i would need a new circuit to follow if that happened

[rainman2]

rainman 2.....I think that pretty much sums it up. If you remember when Pompano closed, some actually got out of the biz.

Agreed!  Many got out of the business.  However, quite a few of these trainers at Yonkers now have a lot of power underneath them, while the guys from pompano didn't have that power.  Is this a big difference?  As far as the little guys that race Yonkers, there are quite a few other venues around for less purse money or get out the business altogether.