by John Cirillo, for Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — When Roosevelt Raceway permanently closed its doors in 1988, Yonkers Raceway president and CEO Tim Rooney, a passionate operator, breeder and owner, was not about to let the famed International Trot die along with it.

So, he took over as host track for harness racing’s global classic that year, bringing Roosevelt’s Lew “Tootie” Barasch aboard to spearhead the effort. Yonkers staged the International for seven years thereafter.

Now, through the efforts of Mr. Rooney and COO Bob Galterio, the International Trot will return to Yonkers with a $1 million purse after a 20-year hiatus. It has been buoyed by that same Rooney passion, combined with the emergence of Empire City Casino as a pre-eminent facility, and the success of simulcasting all-trotting race cards to more than a dozen countries in Europe through a French wagering hub, which began late last year.

The Rooney family has owned the famed harness oval since 1972 and Yonkers Raceway was resuscitated with the advent of Empire City in 2006.

On five of the eight Sunday afternoon cards, at least $1 million has been wagered on the races from Yonkers in Europe through the French hub, including the first four which began last Nov. 9.

Mr. Rooney notes, “Harness racing is more popular throughout Europe than the Thoroughbreds, except in two countries — England and Ireland.”

The trotters have the same popularity on Sunday afternoons, as the NFL does in the USA.

Here is the breakdown of the wagering in excess of $1 million on the quintet of Sunday programs at Yonkers:

11/16/14-$1.44M euros
11/9/14-$1.39M euros
11/30/14-$1.19M euros
1/11/15-$1.17M euros
3/8/15-$1.01M euros

France, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Austria, Luxemburg, Holland, Estonia and Malta have wagered on the simulcasting. Italy, Norway and Sweden will also have wagering on the International program, which will get underway as an afternoon matinee at 2 p.m. on Oct. 10. Post time for the International is at 3:10 p.m. Most of the races, like the International, are raced at 1-1/4 miles, an unusual distance in America, but extremely popular overseas.

“It’s our pleasure to bring back the International Trot,” Rooney says. “It’s been a signature New York race since it debuted at Roosevelt Raceway back in 1959. We took over the race after Roosevelt closed, and it was very well received.

“With Yonkers now a major player in the overseas simulcast market, we feel this is the best time to showcase our track to the world by again inviting the best trotters in the world to race here. We have had tremendous co-operation from our horsemen, and all of us are looking forward to it.”