from the Standardbred Owners Association of New York

Yonkers, NY — What is the significance of the numbers 169 and $5,171,750?

At Yonkers Raceway the number 169 represents the total number of successful claims from the second week of 2011, when racing commenced this year at Yonkers, through April 12, a period less than one-third of the way through a 245-date 2011 meet. The number $5,171,750 is the amount of money spent by owners on those successful claims. If these real numbers continue at this pace, the total money spent on claiming tags might just exceed $20 million for the year. That has to be a record.

For all the gloom and doom some naysayers lay at the doorstep of the harness racing game today, Yonkers is proof positive that the game can survive anything if horsemen are provided with adequate opportunity to compete and a proper purse structure. From the breeding shed to the racetrack, purse money drives the entire game, and being able to race for that money on a consistent basis is what makes segments of our agri-racing industries, like New York, so very strong.

When our state’s struggling racing industry was in need of a shot in the arm to help return it to viability, the New York Legislature found it in the best interests of the State, public education and, yes, the 40,000 equine-related jobs that were in jeopardy to act in a fashion that would produce positive results for all, not just a few. The above numbers only partially reflect the results of that foresight.

New York breds have for the past few years been the most sought after yearlings at auction sales, and New York is once again the place to be for serious Standardbred investors and enthusiasts.

If New York stays the course and does not buy into the gloom and doom commentary, it will just keep on improving to the benefit of all who rely on the economic strength of private industries such as ours.