Yonkers Trot, Messenger get purse increases to $500,000
At 0h02, on May 11, 2021 • By YONKERS
Yonkers Raceway is pleased to announce that the four major Grand Circuit stakes scheduled for Friday, July 2, 2021 will all see substantial purse increases over the originally advertised amounts.
The MGM Yonkers Trot and MGM Grand Messenger Pace will see a purse boost from $300,000 to $500,000. The marquee races are scheduled as the first legs of the Triple Crown for 3-year-old trotters and pacers, respectively. The Pacing Triple Crown also includes the Cane Pace (Meadowlands) and Little Brown Jug (Delaware County Fair). After the Yonkers Trot, the Trotting Triple Crown continues with the Hambletonian (Meadowlands) and Kentucky Futurity (Red Mile).
The filly companion races will also get a nice purse boost. The Park MGM Pace and New York-New York Mile Trot will both bump up to $150,000 from $125,000.
“When we put the stakes schedule together back in November there was a great deal of uncertainty about 2021, so we took a very conservative approach to purse levels,” said Yonkers Director of Racing Alex Dadoyan. “Now that we have seen significant reopening steps in New York, we were able to make these increases.”
Elimination races for all four finals are scheduled for Friday, June 25.
Yonkers Raceway continues its Monday to Friday live racing schedule (post time 7:15 p.m.) through May 27. The track will then take a 10-day break and return to the normal five weeknights of racing on Monday, June 7.
