Harness: Good news in New York as casinos green-lighted to open

When Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday (9/3) that New York casinos would be allowed to open starting September 9 at 25% capacity, it was just the news the harness racing industry needed in the Empire State.

With Yonkers Raceway tentatively scheduled to close September 12 due to a depleted purse account and Monticello Raceway shuttered since March, owners and horsemen in the state were staring at dark times. The news on Thursday shifts the focus from when will the casinos open and allow tracks to share in the profits for the purse accounts to how long will it take for them to open.

Yonkers Raceway specifically has an agreement in place with the horsemen stating that when the casino opens for business, the track will open for business, according to Standardbred Owners Association of New York President Joe Faraldo.

"I assume MGM wants to open the doors as soon as possible," said Faraldo, who felt there was no reason why racing had to be interrupted for a lengthy amount of time, if at all. "We could tolerate a short break, but in my mind, the track would not close (after Sept. 12). We can adjust the purse account for the short gap (until the casino money fuels the purse account). All we need to do is delay the payment of purses for 10 days instead of five."

According to MGM Yonkers Director of Racing Alex Dadoyan, while the facility has been properly upgraded to acceptable standards for some time, it still has to wait for COVID-19 operational guidelines from the state and re-staff furloughed employees. That could delay any casino opening perhaps 7-to-10 days after September 9 and possibly place racing on the sidelines for a few days, but not long.

While 25 percent capacity may seem like a low number, Faraldo said other states are showing strong returns despite restrictions. "They are on restrictions in Ohio and Pennsylvania and haven't lost a dime in revenue since re-opening," said Faraldo.

Perhaps the worst casualty in racing from the Pandemic has been Monticello Raceway. Shuttered since March 13, the New York Catskill-region track could be opening soon. "I would almost bet on it," said Faraldo when asked about the possibility. "My guess is that the track made a commitment to the Gaming Commission that they would race when the casino opens."

Despite most tracks running short on money, Monticello is in much better shape. Since the facility has been closed for six months, horsemen have $1.25 million in the purse account and another $2 million in an interest-bearing escrow account according to Faraldo.

Vernon Downs in upstate New York announced in late August that it would close in mid-to-late September. When asked for comment, owner Jeff Gural said he wasn't sure if the track would revert back to its original November closing date.

The timing of the casino announcement was not only a relief to horsemen and tracks in the state, but also for the breeding industry. The Goshen Yearling Sale is slated for September 14 in New York and the New York Sire Stakes finals two days earlier at Yonkers Raceway. The Sire Stakes gets vital funds from the casinos to fund purses which also bolsters the breeding industry. New York Sire Stakes Executive Director M. Kelly Young called the announcement a "morale boost" on her Twitter account.