from the Standardbred Owners Association of New York

Yonkers, NY — Whenbread and butter horsemen contemplate parting with tens of thousands of dollarsto claim a horse, little can be left to chance. Owners and trainersneed to know that the prospect that they have been watching for weeks isfit and sound. Moreover, they need assurance that they will have the ability torace the horse back in timely fashion.

Such claimingopportunities are enhanced if the horsemen at the particular oval are of thehighest caliber. That’s even more critical at tracks in New York State where,in a cost-cutting move, the Racing Board has decided not to continue to financethe post-race drug testing of claimed horses. The opportunities are alsoenhanced if the track cards adequate race programs and the condition sheet isdesigned so as to provide ample and prompt ability to reenter in achosen class.

At Yonkers Raceway,the presence of all of the above factors, along with a superlative overnightpurse structure and a superior racing surface, combine to make the Hilltop Ovala virtual claimant’s paradise.

As the midpoint ofYonkers’ year ’round, 5-night-a-week racing season approaches, activity at theclaiming box is nothing short of dramatic. As of the June 28th card, the111th of the year, there have been 273 claims posted, for an average of about2.5 claims a night. The combined claiming price of these campaigners is a whopping$6,396,875. Of course, those 273 claims do not account for situations wheremultiple claim slips were handed to the judges on the same horse, thusresulting in a shake.

With the Stakes seasonwell under way, as Yonkers cards its signature event, The Yonkers Trot TripleCrown race on July 7, it’s good to remember that the strength of our sport isrooted in the nightly overnight program offered at racetracks. As claiming activityis an important barometer of the strength of nightly racing programs, it’sclear that Yonkers’ overnight program remains second to none.