by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s third annual Fall Harvest Festival is set for this Saturday night (Oct. 22), featuring a track apron-full of fun, family activities and a track full of politicians who sense victory.

The third installment of the Legislators’ Challenge features 16 New York State elected officials competing in four exhibition races, beginning at 6 p.m.

Each race has four members of either the state senate or assembly at the controls, with some occasional assistance from Yonkers Raceway’s trained professionals who do this for a living.

If the first two Legislators’ Challenge editions are any indication, political decorum might be in short supply, as all of the participants have their sights set on the winner’s circle.

Competing in the first heat are Senator Tony Avella (D–Whitestone, Queens Co.), Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson (D–Mount Vernon, Bronx Co., Westchester Co.), Assemblyman Michael G. DenDekker (D–East Elmhurst, Queens Co.) and Assemblyman Andrew P. Raia (R–East Northport, Suffolk Co.).

The second heat is comprised of Senator Martin Malave Dilan (D–Brooklyn, Kings Co.), Assemblyman Nelson Castro (D-Bronx Co.), Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszyk (D–Depew, Erie Co.) and Assemblyman Keith Wright (D-Manhattan, Manhattan Co.).

The third grouping includes Senator Kevin Parker (D–Brooklyn, Kings Co.), Assemblyman Michael R. Benedetto (D-Bronx Co.), Assembly Member Naomi Rivera (D–Bronx Co.) and Assemblyman Joseph Saladino (R–Massapequa, Nassau Co.).

The fourth and final Challenge entrants are Senator Jeffrey D. Klein (D-Bronx, Bronx Co., Westchester Co.), Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow (D–Mount Vernon, Westchester Co.), Assembly Member Addie J. Russell (D–Theresa, Jefferson Co., St. Lawrence Co.) and Assemblyman Mike Spano (D–Yonkers, Westchester Co.).

It should be noted that Assemblymen Castro and Pretlow won their Legislators’ Challenge divisions a year ago, with Mr. Pretlow in fact going after a three-peat.

The Fall Harvest Festival, which runs from 5:30-9:30 p.m., showcases the thriving relationship between horse racing and agriculture in New York State. Activities include pony rides, a pie-eating contest, a petting zoo, balloon art, pumpkin and face painting, musical entertainment and a driver autograph session, along with New York-made product sampling. There is also a free pinecone-scented candle giveaway for Empire Club members, and drawings for 10 $50 betting vouchers, courtesy of Blue Chip Farms.

First post for the 12-race card is the usual 7:10 p.m. Here are the post positions: