Just recently, Empire City Casino announced an official date for this year’s running of the annual Legislative Pace for local lawmakers. The highly anticipated race will be held on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at the casino’s adjacent Yonkers Raceway, which will see local senators and assembly members compete for the crown of the friendly race.
Legislative Pace is an annual run event at Yonkers Raceway held by Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts and the Standardbred Owners Association of New York. At the race, local legislators take the reins in double-seated jog cards accompanied by professional harness drivers. And each race includes two trips around the track’s half-mile oval.
Line-Up Will be Revealed Soon
New York State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. said that the annual event is a great way for legislators to come together and promote the needs of the harness racing sector. Mr. Addabbo who is also Chair of the Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee, vows to make sure that the harness sport is properly presented and its needs are suitably met.
New York State Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee Chair J. Gary Pretlow has also shared some words on the exciting race. He said that he is now looking forward to competing in the Yonkers Raceway’s annual Legislative Pace alongside his fellow legislators. He is optimistic that it will be yet another memorable running of the event with tons of fun and competitive spirit from all participants.
Empire City Casino is expected to announce its lawmaker’s line-up for the 2022 event in the coming days. However, past participants have included representatives from the Empire State’s both State Senate and State Assembly. Participation in the event is limited to representatives who currently hold elected office. Last year’s race was won by Assembly Member Joe DeStefano.
In addition to that, Yonkers Raceway has also informed that it will run the popular US$1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot on Saturday, October 15, 2022. It will also hot the US$500,000 Aria Invitational Race and US$500,000 Robert Miecuna Invitational Race, which are part of its 2022 meet. This will be the track’s first international trot since 2019 which was before the start of the unprecedented situation.
Helping Out Local Non-Profits
A few days ago, Empire City Casino also announced that it will be donating over US$100,000 to a total of eight local non-profit organizations. The money has been amassed through the casino’s employee and guest-funded Community Grants Program. The grants were sanctioned to organizations that provide crucial services in the core of the company’s philanthropy areas and its staff members.
The eight organizations are Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, Yonkers Family YMCA, United Way of Westchester & Putnam, the Greyston Foundation, VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, BronxWorks, Guidance Center of Westchester. Each of the organizations received a hefty cheque which will fund its social purpose activities.
Source: “New York State Legislators will compete in live races at Yonkers” United States Trotting Association, August 25, 2022
