Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack is a

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

horse-racing Horse racing is an equestrianism, equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all spor ...

track and

casino A casino is a facility for gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos also host live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, conce ...

located in Farmington in western

New York State New York, also called New York State, is a state in the northeastern United States. Bordered by New England to the east, Canada to the north, and Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the south, its territory extends into both the Atlantic Ocean and ...

, approximately southeast of Rochester, New York, Rochester. The facility is about one mile south of New York State Thruway exit 44.Google Map Location
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History

Finger Lakes Racetrack opened on May 23, 1962, as a thoroughbred horse race track. The race track has gone through several ownership changes and a cycle of successful and near-bankrupt seasons. Famous jockeys that have ridden at Finger Lakes include Angel Cordero, Pat Day, Julie Krone, and Bill Shoemaker. Ross Morton, a well-known race caller, was Finger Lakes' announcer from opening day until his death in February 2008. And Tin Cup Chalice, the first winner of the Big Apple Triple Crown of Racing, made his home at Finger Lakes. Unfortunately, Tin Cup Chalice died on April 17, 2009, in a freak accident while training at the track. A colt named Zany bolted and collided with him and both horses died. As a seasonal business, holding races from spring to fall, the track was financially hurt with the advent of Off-track betting, Off Track Betting in the 1980s. Finger Lakes rebounded in the 1990s when simulcast racing began. Under this system, patrons were able to attend the clubhouse year-round and wager on races at other tracks around the country. In 2004, Finger Lakes Race Track became Finger Lakes Gaming and Race Track after a $10.5 million renovation. The largest part of the renovation was the addition of a racino, which is a casino-style video gaming floor. Attendance rose at the facility after the introduction of the racino.

Feature Races

Finger Lakes is home to the New York Derby, a 1 1/16 mile restricted race for 3 year old horses who have been bred in the state of New York. Carrying a purse of $150,000, the race is a part of the Big Apple Triple, consisting of the Mike Lee Stakes at Belmont Park, the New York Derby, and the Albany Stakes (United States), Albany Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The New York Derby race is typically run in July. Finger Lakes Race Track does not offer any graded stakes. They do offer ungraded and restricted stakes throughout the meet.

List of stakes races at Finger Lakes

*Arctic Queen Handicap *Aspirant Stakes *Finger Lakes Juvenile *Finger Lakes Juvenile Fillies *Genesee Valley Breeders Handicap *George W. Barker Handicap *Jack Betta Be Rite Handicap *Lady Fingers Stakes *Leon Reed Memorial Handicap *New York Breeders' Futurity *New York Derby *New York Oaks *Niagara Stakes *Ontario County Stakes *Proud Puppy Handicap *Susan B. Anthony Handicap *Wadsworth Memorial Handicap

References

External links

* {{coord, 42.971183, -77.343514, region:US_type:landmark, display=title Sports venues in New York (state) Horse racing venues in New York (state) 1962 in horse racing 1962 establishments in New York (state) Tourist attractions in Ontario County, New York Buildings and structures in Ontario County, New York Sports venues completed in 1962