Finger Lakes Gaming and Race Track facts for kids
| Location | Route 96 Farmington, New York, United States |
|---|---|
| Owned by | Delaware North |
| Date opened | May 23, 1962 |
| Course type | Flat |
| Notable races | New York Derby Wadsworth Memorial Handicap New York Breeders' Futurity |
Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack is a cool place in Farmington, New York. It's where you can watch exciting horse-racing and also play fun games. This spot is in western New York State, not too far from Rochester. It's a popular place for families and horse racing fans!
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The Story of Finger Lakes Racetrack
Finger Lakes Racetrack first opened its doors on May 23, 1962. It started as a place just for thoroughbred horse races. Over the years, many famous jockeys have raced here. These include amazing riders like Angel Cordero, Pat Day, Julie Krone, and Bill Shoemaker.
How the Racetrack Grew and Changed
For a while, the racetrack only held races from spring to fall. This made it tough to make money all year. But things changed in the 1990s with something called simulcast racing. This meant people could come to the track all year long. They could bet on races happening at other tracks across the country.
In 2004, Finger Lakes got a big upgrade! It became Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack. This was after a $10.5 million renovation. The biggest change was adding a racino. A racino is like a casino with video games, but it's connected to a racetrack. This made the place even more popular, bringing in lots of visitors.
Exciting Races at Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes is home to some special races. One of the most important is the New York Derby. This race is for three-year-old horses that were born in New York State. It's a long race, about 1 and 1/16 miles!
What is the New York Derby?
The New York Derby is a big deal for young horses. It's part of something called the Big Apple Triple. This series includes three important races for New York-bred horses. The New York Derby usually happens in July. Winning it is a huge honor for a horse and its team!
Other Fun Races to Watch
While Finger Lakes doesn't have "graded stakes" races (which are the highest level), it still has many exciting events. These are called ungraded and restricted stakes. They happen throughout the racing season. Here are some of the races you might see:
- 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
