INTERNATIONAL TROT?AT $1 MILLION? RETURNS TO YONKERS AFTER 20 YEAR ABSENCE

Yonkers Raceway returns famed International Trot with $1 Million Purse on October 10 after 20-Year Absence‎ ‎New York, June 17?The world-renowned International Trot, one of harness racing-s elite stakes, will return to ‎Yonkers Raceway after a two-decade absence on Saturday, October 10, with its richest purse in history at $1 million, it was announced by Timothy J. Rooney, the raceway president. Yonkers last hosted the global spectacular in 1995 (won by Sweden-s His Majesty). A field of 10 will be invited, and the race will be contested at 1 and 1/4 miles over Empire City Casino's historic harness racing oval. The stakes race, which attracts trotting champions from around the world, originated at Roosevelt Raceway in 1959. When Roosevelt closed it's doors in 1988, Rooney brought the International to Yonkers that same year. The seven-figure purse would be Yonkers- second-ever million-dollar race (2007 Art Rooney Pace, won by Southwind Lynx). ‎The return of the International Trot has been discussed for years, gaining momentum with the success of last season-s International Trot Preview. That race, contested at a mile-and-a-quarter, was won by Natural Herbie (Verlin Yoder) in a world-record 2:24.4.‎ ?It-s our pleasure to bring back the International Trot,? Raceway president Timothy J. Rooney said. ?It-s been a signature New York race since it debuted at Roosevelt Raceway back in 1959. We took over the race after Roosevelt closed, and it was very well received.‎ ?With Yonkers now a major player in the overseas simulcast market, we feel this is the best time to showcase our track to the world by again inviting the best trotters in the world to race here. We have had tremendous cooperation from our horsemen, and all of us are looking forward to it.‎‎ Contact: John Cirillo, 914-260-7436, [email protected]; ‎Frank Drucker, Yonkers Raceway Publicity Director, 914-968-4200, [email protected]