New York Sire Stakes finals moved to Vernon Downs for 2009

The Trustees of the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund, the administrators of the New York Sire Stakes, Thursday approved their 2009 racing schedule which includes a change in venue for the “Night Of Champions” Sire Stakes finals from Yonkers Raceway to Vernon Downs.

Meeting at the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y., the trustees unanimously voted to make the Night Of Champions move to Vernon despite a strong argument from Yonkers Raceway, the traditional host for the Sire Stakes finals.

In a letter from Yonkers president Tim Rooney as well as statements before the trustees Thursday by track general manager Bob Glaterio and Joe Feraldo of the Standardbred Owners Association of New York, it was pointed out that Yonkers’ proximity to more than eight million citizens, its ability to generate a pari-mutuel handle of  $1.1 million on this year’s Night Of Champions card, and the more than $6.5 million generated by the track’s VGM machines for the development fund, warrants Yonkers being the site for the Sire Stakes finals.

In selecting Vernon Downs as the site for next year’s finals, trustee chairman John Sabini said moving the finals was not a vote against Yonkers, but a vote for the success of the Sire Stakes program.

“No one is more cognizant of the fact that Yonkers Raceway is a jewel in the harness racing world,” Sabini said. “We also have other partners in New York, and we want to try to sort of spread the wealth; it’s a good program. We want to make sure that people throughout the state get exposure to the program. We’re not looking to penalize anyone, but rather to grow on the past successes that have happened here. In an industry that hasn’t had a lot of success stories, this is one of them.”

In other action taken by the trustees, the Empire Breeders Classic, a race for 3-year-olds at Tioga Downs, was approved for a third year in 2009. A request for a similar type late closer for older horses at Saratoga Gaming And Raceway was tabled for further study. And in the New York bred late closer series, the earnings cutoff for 2 year olds was placed at $12,000 and for the 3-year-olds, $25,000 lifetime. Also, horses are now required to race at least three legs of the series to become eligible for the final.

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