Yonkers, NY — The MGM Yonkers International Trot is unique in the Standardbred world as a race that attracts top talent worldwide. On Oct. 15, the $1 million invitational race for trotters will return from a two-year COVID-related hiatus to anchor a multi-million dollar program at Yonkers Raceway, featuring the best horses in the sport.

Launched in 1959 at the now defunct Roosevelt Raceway and originally contested as a mile and a half race, the International Trot was revived by Yonkers Raceway in 2013 and has hosted the greats of the sport, both human and equine.

From drivers and trainers like Stanley Dancer (1961, 1963), Jean-René Gougeon (1968, 1969, 1971) and Billy Haughton (1978, 1979) to trotting royalty in Mack Lobell (1988) and two-time champions Su Mac Lad (1961, 1963) and Delmonica Hanover (1973, 1974), the International Trot has always been a showcase for harness racing.

The International Trot moved to Yonkers Raceway in 1988 and was contested as a mile and a quarter event on the historic half-mile track for a few years and was revived in 2015 after a decade of dormancy.

Over the last five editions of the race, four different countries have taken home the prestigious trophy: Zacon Gio (2019) and Twister Bi (2017) both have Italian roots, Cruzado Dela Noche (2018) won under the Swedish flag, Resolve (2016) kept the trophy at home in the United States, and Papagayo E (2015) was a winner for Norway.

Now officially rechristened as the MGM Yonkers International Trot and one of only two million-dollar races in the United States, along with the Hambletonian, it is one of the few stakes races which is fully funded by the host track and requires no financial commitment from owners.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome back the International Trot that was unfortunately lost to the global pandemic for the last two years,” said MGM Yonkers General Manager Ed Domingo. “This is the signature annual event at Yonkers Raceway, one that attracts worldwide talent. As a staple of the historic legacy of harness racing that MGM Resorts is proud to be the steward of, we could not be more thrilled to be hosting this event again this year.”

Joining the 42nd MGM Yonkers International on the Oct. 15 card will be a pair of $500,000 races for older horses — Aria Invitational Pace and the Robert Miecuna Invitational Trot — that are also completely funded by the track’s purse account.

Stakes season officially began at Yonkers Raceway with the MGM Rewards Series on March 8 and continues with the rich Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata events on March 18 and 21, respectively. Another highlight on the calendar is July 1, when a pair of Triple Crown races — MGM Grand Messenger Stake and MGM Yonkers Trot — will be contested.

The complete schedule of stakes races at Yonkers Raceway can be found here. Live racing continues at Yonkers Raceway on a Monday to Friday schedule with a first-race post time of 6:55 p.m.

For more information about the International Trot and MGM Resorts, please visit www.empirecitycasino.com.