The Yonkers Trot is a harness racing event for three-year-old Standardbred trotters raced at a distance of one mile at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York. The race was created in 1955 to join the Hambletonian and the Kentucky Futurity to form the new United States Trotting Triple Crown.
| Location | Yonkers, New York |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1955 |
| Race type | Harness race for standardbred trotters |
| Website | Empire City Casino Racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile (1,609 metres or 8 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt, 1/2 mile oval |
| Track | Yonkers Raceway |
| Qualification | 3-year-olds |
| Purse | $300,000 (2023) |
Historical race events
editDriven by Joe O'Brien, California runner Scott Frost followed up his victory in the Hambletonian Stakes with a win in the 1955 Yonkers Trot inaugural. The colt went on to win the Kentucky Futurity to become the first winner of the Trotting Triple Crown.[1]
In 1967, eight of the thirteen Yonkers Trot runners broke stride helping Harry Pownall, Sr. drive longshot Pomp to victory.[2]
Reminiscent of the day when Ron Turcotte aboard the legendary Thoroughbred Secretariat obliterated the Belmont Park track record by 2 3/5 seconds in winning the 1973 Belmont Stakes, in 1977 Billy Haughton drove Green Speed to a new Yonkers Trot record by the same 2 3/5 seconds margin.[3]
The 2000 Yonkers Trot saw Jacqueline Ingrassia become the first female driver to ever win a leg of a harness racing Triple Crown event when she guided Goalfish to victory.[4]
In 2016, Paula Wellwood became the first female trainer to win not only the Yonkers Trot but the U.S. Trotting Triple Crown with Marion Marauder.[5]
Due to renovations at Yonkers Raceway, the race was hosted by Hawthorne Race Course in Chicago. It was won by Windsong's Legacy who posted the fastest mile in the 34 years that harness racing had been run at the Hawthorne track.[6]
Race locations
edit- 1955–2003, & 2006–present: Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, New York
- 2004: Hawthorne Race Course (Chicago, Illinois)[7]
- 2005: Freehold Raceway (Freehold Borough, New Jersey)[8]
Race distances
editFrom inception in 1955 through 1962, the Yonkers Trot was raced over a distance of 1 1/16 miles (1710 metres).
Records
edit- Most wins by a driver
- 6 – Stanley Dancer (1959, 1965, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1975)
- Most wins by a trainer
- 6 – Stanley Dancer (1959, 1965, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1975)
- Stakes record (1 mile)
- 1:53 1/5 – Windsong's Legacy (2005, at Hawthorne), Joviality S (2022, at Yonkers)
- Stakes record (1 1/16 miles)
- 2:10 3/5 – Duke Rodney (1961 at Yonkers)
Yonkers Trot winners
edit| Year |
Winner |
Driver |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Sir Pinocchio | Jason Bartlett | Ed Hart | Carolyn Atherton | 1:54 4/5 | $300,000 |
| 2023 | Up Your Deo | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt, Suleyman Yuksel Stables Inc., Van Camp Trotting Corp. | 1:53 3/5 | $300,000 |
| 2022 | Joviality S | Brian Sears | Marcus Melander | Courant Inc | 1:53 1/5 | $280,904 |
| 2021 | Johan Palema | Yannick Gingras | Ake Svanstedt | Bender Sweden Inc | 1:55 0/0 | $500,000 |
| 2020 | No Race | No Race | No Race | No Race | 0:00 0/0 | $000,000 |
| 2019 | Gimpanzee | Brian Sears | Marcus Melander | Courant Inc. & SRF Stable | 1:53 3/5 | $500,000 |
| 2018 | Six Pack | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | Svanstedt, Little E, Stall Kalmar & Lars Berg. | 1:54 0/0 | $500,000 |
| 2017 | Top Flight Angel | Brian Sears | Julie Miller | Legendary Standardbred Farm | 1:56 3/5 | $500,000 |
| 2016 | Marion Marauder | Scott Zeron | Paula Wellwood | Jean Wellwood, Devin Keeler | 1:56 1/5 | $500,000 |
| 2015 | Habitat | Brian Sears | Ron Burke | Burke Racing Stable, Our Horse Cents Stables, Weaver Bruscemi | 1:54 4/5 | $500,000 |
| 2014 | Nuncio | John Campbell | Jimmy Takter | Stall TZ Inc. (Stefan Melander) | 1:56 0/0 | $500,000 |
| 2013 | Dewycolorintheline | Ray Schnittker | Ray Schnittker | Schnittker, Iannazzo, Gewertz, Baldassare & Deweycheatumnhowe Stb. | 1:57 3/5 | $450,000 |
| 2012 | Archangel | Jim Morrill, Jr. | Peter Arrigenna | P. Arrigenna, Alan Hainsworth, & Clare Semer | 1:54 1/5 | $445,594 |
| 2011 | Leader Of The Gang | David Miller | Jimmy Takter | Christina Takter, Joyce McClelland, R A W Equine, Brixton Medical Ab | 1:57 2/5 | $445,474 |
| 2010 | On The Tab | David Miller | Jimmy Takter | Christina Takter, John Fielding, Louie Camara, Falkbolagen AB | 1:58 4/5 | $573,770 |
| 2009 | Judge Joe | Ronald Pierce | Jimmy Takter | Atlantic Trot, Inc. (Mario Zuanetti) | 1:56 1/5 | $670,774 |
| 2008 | Napoleon | Stéphane Bouchard | Noel Daley | Larry Thomases, Sidney Korn, John Guarniere, Ken Tucci | 1:57 1/5 | $605,854 |
| 2007 | Green Day | Catello Manzi | James D. Raymer | Trillium Racing Stable (James & Mary Raymer) | 1:56 0/0 | $644,770 |
| 2006 | Glidemaster | George Brennan | Blair Burgess | Robert Burgess, Karin-Olsson Burgess, Marsha Cohen, Brittany Farms | 1:55 4/5 | $728,930 |
| 2005 | Strong Yankee | Brian Sears | Trond Smedshammer | Strong Yankee Stable | 1:56 1/5 | $297,816 |
| 2004 | Windsong's Legacy | Trond Smedshammer | Trond Smedshammer | Ann Brannvoll, Ted Gewertz, Patricia Spinelli | 1:53 1/5 | $391,200 |
| 2003 | Sugar Trader | Catello Manzi | John Brennan | John Brennan, John Nordstrom, John Taddeo | 1:58 3/5 | $337,229 |
| 2002 | Bubba Dunn | Jeff Gregory | Jeffrey Smith | Ira Kristel | 1:58 4/5 | $338,626 |
| 2001 | Banker Hall | Trevor Ritchie | Harold Lunde | Tommy B. Andersson | 1:59 1/5 | $340,614 |
| 2000 | Goalfish | Jacqueline Ingrassia | Frank Ingrassia | Jacqueline Ingrassia | 1:59 0/0 | $345,403 |
| 1999 | CR Renegade | Rod Allen | Carl E. Allen | Carl & Rod Allen Stable | 1:58 0/0 | $273,891 |
| 1998 | Muscles Yankee | John Campbell | Charles Sylvester | Perretti Farms Inc, Irving G. Liverman & David French | 1:57 3/5 | $319,725 |
| 1997 | Lord Stormont | Douglas S. Brown | Norman C. Jones | Stormont Meadows (Eric Baker) | 1:58 4/5 | $291,948 |
| 1996 | Continentalvictory | Michel Lachance | Ron Gurfein | Continentalvictory Stable (D. Frost/H. Gold/R. & J. Silva/Stix Inc./Allister Stb.) | 1:56 2/5 | $334,700 |
| 1995 | CR Kay Suzie | Rod Allen | Carl E. Allen | Carl & Rod Allen Stable | 1:56 0/0 | $276,564 |
| 1994 | Bullville Victory | Catello Manzi | Per Eriksson | Graham Mottram, Tom Artandi, Palmer, Per Eriksson | 1:58 2/5 | $286,280 |
| 1993 | American Winner | Ronald Pierce | Milton Smith | Robert Key, & John Glesmann | 1:56 2/5 | $313,699 |
| 1992 | Mc Cluckey (DH) | Michel Lachance | Joseph Holloway | Robert Suslow | 1:58 2/5 | $370,265 |
| 1992 | Magic Lobell (DH) | Lorenzo Baldi | Terje Fossheim | 1:58 2/5 | ||
| 1991 | Crown's Invitation | Michel Lachance | Jerry Riordan | Louis P. Guida | 1:59 3/5 | $370,393 |
| 1990 | Royal Troubador | Carl E. Allen | Carl E. Allen | Carl & Rod Allen Stable | 1:58 2/5 | $424,965 |
| 1989 | Valley Victory | Bill O'Donnell | Steve Elliott | Arlene Traub | 1:58 3/5 | $418,810 |
| 1988 | Southern Newton | Berndt O. Lindstedt | Jan Johnson | Thor Christiansson | 2:00 0/0 | $431,495 |
| 1987 | Mack Lobell | John Campbell | Charles Sylvester | One More Time Stable (L. P. Guida, et al. & Fair Winds Farm (E. Mullen)) | 1:57 4/5 | $324,115 |
| 1986 | Gunslinger Spur | Richard L. Stillings | Richard L. Stillings | Roy D. Davis | 2:00 4/5 | $372,503 |
| 1985 | Master Willie | Jan Nordin | Sören Nordin | Dr. William & Ann Allen | 1:59 3/5 | $440,840 |
| 1984 | Baltic Speed | Jan Nordin | Sören Nordin | Baltic Farm | 2:01 3/5 | $431,780 |
| 1983 | Joie De Vie | William Gilmour | Howard Beissinger | Murray Siegel, Crown Stable, P. Nigito & Lana Lobell Farm | 2:00 3/5 | $486,150 |
| 1982 | Mystic Park | Frank O'Mara | Frank O'Mara | Allen Wechter, Dr. Robert Lester, Gerald & Irving Wechter | 2:00 3/5 | $415,160 |
| 1981 | Mo Bandy | Carl E. Allen | Carl E. Allen | Carl E. Allen | 2:02 1/5 | $284,701 |
| 1980 | Nevele Impulse | Richard Macomber | Richard Macomber | Karl Hubbert | 2:03 2/5 | $261,040 |
| 1979 | Chiola Hanover | James Allen | Bill Vaughn | Alnoff Stable (Michael, Bobby & Allan Chasanoff) | 2:04 0/0 | $237,765 |
| 1978 | Speedy Somolli | Howard Beissinger | Howard Beissinger | Ann Beissinger, Barbara Mumma, Alan J. Leavitt, William Rosenberg | 1:59 3/5 | $233,594 |
| 1977 | Green Speed | Billy Haughton | Billy Haughton | Mrs. Beverly Lloyds | 1:59 0/0 | $239,000 |
| 1976 | Steve Lobell | Billy Haughton | Billy Haughton | Mill Island Stable (Richard Herman & Murray Siegel) | 2:01 4/5 | $202,004 |
| 1975 | Surefire Hanover | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Rachel L. Dancer & Rose Hild Breeding Farm. | 2:03 0/0 | $200,000 |
| 1974 | Spitfire Hanover | Delvin Miller | Delvin Miller | Delvin Miller | 2:05 2/5 | $125,821 |
| 1973 | Tamerlane | Charles W. Clark | Charles W. Clark | Bill & Madeline Shehan | 2:04 4/5 | $93,242 |
| 1972 | Super Bowl | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Rachel L. Dancer & Rose Hild Breeding Farm | 2:02 0/0 | $93,097 |
| 1971 | Quick Pride | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Stanley & Rachel Dancer/Raymond Gault/Blue Chip Farms/Hilda Silverstein | 2:02 4/5 | $110,795 |
| 1970 | Victory Star | Vernon J. Dancer | Vernon J. Dancer | Fury Stable (Newman Pearsall) | 2:03 4/5 | $106,770 |
| 1969 | Lindy's Pride | Howard Beissinger | Howard Beissinger | Lindy Farms, Inc. | 2:03 0/0 | $100,000 |
| 1968 | Nevele Pride | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Nevele Acres & Louis Resnick | 2:03 3/5 | $150,000 |
| 1967 | Pomp | Harry E. Pownall, Sr. | Harry E. Pownall, Sr. | Arden Homestead Stable (E. Roland Harriman & Elbridge T. Gerry, Sr.) | 2:04 4/5 | $150,000 |
| 1966 | Polaris | George Sholty | George Sholty | Livio Battista | 2:06 0/0 | $123,375 |
| 1965 | Noble Victory | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Kenneth D. Owen | 2:02 0/0 | $122,236 |
| 1964 | Ayres | John F. Simpson, Sr. | John F. Simpson, Sr. | Charlotte Sheppard | 2:01 3/5 | $116,691 |
| 1963 | Speedy Scot | Ralph N. Baldwin | Ralph N. Baldwin | Castleton Farm | 2:03 3/5 | $135,127 |
| 1962 | A.C.'s Viking | Sanders Russels | Sanders Russels | Mr. & Mrs. Andrew C. Petersen | 2:10 4/5 | $105,422 |
| 1961 | Duke Rodney | Edward T. Wheeler | Edward T. Wheeler | Patrick & Elisabeth DiGennaro | 2:10 3/5 | $100,330 |
| 1960 | Duke of Decatur | Delvin Miller | Delvin Miller | Walter T. Candler | 2:13 3/5 | $74,265 |
| 1959 | John A. Hanover | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Dr. Nicholas & Angela Derrico | 2:11 0/0 | $56,397 |
| 1958 | Spunky Hanover | Howard Camper | Robert Camper | Fiesta Farm (Harold Large) | 2:13 3/5 | $56,157 |
| 1957 | Hoot Song | Ralph N. Baldwin | Ralph N. Baldwin | Two Gaits Farm (Leo C. McNamara) | 2:16 1/5 | $57,812 |
| 1956 | Add Hanover | John F. Simpson, Sr. | John F. Simpson, Sr. | A. C. Mudge | 2:12 4/5 | $77,170 |
| 1955 | Scott Frost | Joe O'Brien | Joe O'Brien | S. A. Camp Farms | 2:12 0/0 | $73,840 |
References
edit- ^ Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame bio for Scott Frost Retrieved September 23, 2016
- ^ Harness Racing Update.com September 2, 2016 article titled "Hollywood's Hits: Yonkers Trot through the years" Retrieved October 19, 2016
- ^ Harness Racing Update.com September 2, 2016 article titled "Hollywood's Hits: Yonkers Trot through the years" Retrieved October 19, 2016
- ^ New York Times August 27, 2000 article titled "Ingrassia Is First Woman To Win the Yonkers Trot" Retrieved October 17, 2016
- ^ Harness Racing Update.com October 14, 2016 article titled "Hollywood's Hits: A deeper look at Marion Marauder's Triple Crown" Retrieved October 17, 2016
- ^ Chicago Tribune August 29, 2004 article by Neil Milbert titled "Windsong's Legacy rolls in Yonkers" Retrieved October 17, 2016
- ^ Chicago Tribune August 26, 2004 article titled "Trotting's Triple Crown takes trip to Hawthorne"[dead link] Retrieved October 17, 2016
- ^ USTA August 20, 2005 article by Don Bielak titled "Strong Yankee wins Yonkers Trot"[dead link] Retrieved October 19, 2016