| Finger Lakes Race Track PO Box 25250 Farmington, New York, 14425 USA (585)-924-3232 (585)-935-5252 |
| Racing Dates: 2010-04-17 until 2010-12-05 Number of Racing Days: |
Track Length: 1 MileStretch Length: 960 Feet
Stretch Width:
Infield Capacity:
Clubhouse Capacity: 2000
Grand Stand Capacity: 4000
Parking Capacity: 4000
Price General Admission: Free
Price Clubhouse:
Price Turf Club:
Finger Lakes Race Track History
Finger Lakes Race Track kicked off on May 23, 1962, when Pure Village took the inaugural race at Finger Lakes with a winning time of 1:17 3/5 for six furlongs. Hall of Fame riders Angel Cordero, Pat Day, Julie Krone and Bill Shoemaker have demonstrated their winning skills at Finger Lakes in different times. On September 24, 1978, Steve Cauthen chased to victory in Triple Crown in front of a crowd of 11,030 people. Meanwhile, Thoroughbred sensations Eclipse Award winners Groovy, Safely Kept and Not Surprising are among the top-notch performers at Finger Lakes.In 1981, Fio Rito was named New York State Horse of the Year in 1980 and came into the national spotlight by registering win at the Whitney Handicap, Saratoga. Fio Rito dominated at Finger Lakes throughout his career, winning 19 of 27 starts. His career, which included 28 wins in 50 starts and $611,142 in earnings, ended suddenly due to an injury suffered in the 1981 Woodward Stakes. Upon his passing in 1996 at the age of 21, Fio Rito was buried in the Finger Lakes infield. The total amount wagered annually on Finger Lakes racing has grown from $14.3 million in 1962 to nearly $200 million.
In 1999, Finger Lakes enjoyed its most successful campaign ever with fans wagering over $208 million. As of the conclusion of its 41st season of operation in 2002, the only Thoroughbred track – Finger Lakes - in Western New York has entertained more than 18 million racing fans, which have combined to wager over $1.6 billion. Off-track patrons have contributed an additional $2.6 billion to the handle, bringing the all-time wagering total on Finger Lakes racing to over $4.2 billion.
2002 saw the introduction of an Equine Swim Facility on the Finger Lakes grounds in April. The new aquatic facility is one of only a handful on track grounds in the country, and gives trainers a valuable option in the conditioning regiment for their stable. The New York Derby, is held every year in late July, headlines the schedule, while the New York Oaks and New York Breeders’ Futurity also draw considerable attention. The Derby is the second leg of the Big Apple Triple for New York-bred 3-year-olds. The Big Apple Triple begins with the Mike Lee Handicap at Belmont Park in late June, and concludes with the Albany Handicap at Saratoga in mid-August.
