Finger Lakes Picks, Entries and Results
Finger Lakes Track Details
Address: 5857 NY-96, Farmington, NY 14425
Website: www.fingerlakesgaming.com
Meeting: Finger Lakes’ live racing schedule typically runs from the end of April through the end of November. Though the track serves as a minor league of sorts for the New York Racing Association circuit, which consists of Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course, Finger Lakes is not without its share of quality racing. The dirt-only meet is headlined by the $150,000 New York Derby, a race exclusive to New York-bred 3-year-olds, as well as the $200,000 New York Breeders’ Futurity for 2-year-olds. The track also offers several other stakes races restricted to New York-breds, who are the driving force of the meet.
History: Nestled in the scenic Finger Lakes region of upstate New York that lends the track its name, Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack was opened on May 23, 1962 for thoroughbred racing. The track has had a tumultuous history, with several ownership changes and near-bankruptcies, but has stabilized in recent years after a $10.4 million renovation took place in 2004. The biggest component of the renovation was the addition of a casino, which brought a much needed influx of patrons and money to the struggling track. Despite its small stature in the U.S. racing landscape, plenty of the sport’s stars have visited the mile-long dirt track, including famed jockeys Angel Cordero, Pat Day, Julie Krone and Bill Shoemaker.
Facilities: The track features a casino-style video gaming floor and several dining options. Children attending the races must be accompanied by an adult at all times.