by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — This Saturday afternoon (Oct. 14), while there’s a New York State harness-record $3.3 million of Yonkers Raceway purses up for grabs, there’s also a fair chunk of change to be had by some wily handicappers.

A pair of intriguing multi-race gimmicks figure to garner the bulk of the attention.

Up first — chronologically — is a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-5 pool (50-cent minimum wager), comprising the last five races during the 11-race, all-stakes card. We’re talking a pair of $250,000 Invitationals, the $1 million Yonkers International Trot at Empire City Casino and the final two of eight $225,000 New York Sire Stakes events.

The guarantee is a combined effort of the Raceway, the Standardbred Owners Association of New York and the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.

Not to be outdone, the New York Racing Association has become a part of the afternoon, with two of its stakes races serving as the back end of the special New York, New York Pick-4 wager. The quartet of races are Yonkers’ eighth ($250,000 Harry Harvey Invitational Trot) and ninth (million-dollar International Trot), then Belmont’s eighth ($150,000 Futurity) and ninth ($200,000 Pebbles). Post times for the four races are 3:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 4:46 p.m. and 5:19 p.m., respectively.

This bet is hosted by NYRA and also has a 50-cent minimum, with program pages available in both track’s live programs as well as off-track simulcast books. The wager is also available through Empire City Bets, NYRA Bets and other ADW portals.

Advance wagering for Yonkers’ stakes card is available Friday (Oct. 13).

Please be aware of these other Saturday changes to the Raceway’s usual wagering format:

• Add sixth and ninth race superfectas
• Add Pick-3 beginning with ninth race
• Remove Pick-3 beginning with eighth race to accommodate start of New York, New York Pick-4
• Late Daily Double races 10 and 11, both also with superfectas

A reminder that Saturday’s first post is 1 p.m., five minutes after Belmont’s opener.