Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack
Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack is a 450-acre facility with a one-mile horse track and a 28,000 square foot gaming floor that has more than 1,000 video gaming machines. It is located in Farmington, the heart of New York's Finger Lakes region.
A racing season at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack offers approximately 165 racing programs. The season normally starts in mid-April and winds up in November.
Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack has hosted more than 60,000 races and over 18 million racing enthusiasts since its establishment in 1962. Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack hosts several high-profile stakes events each year, among them are the New York Breeders' Futurity, New York Derby, New York Oaks, Lady Finger Stakes and Aspirant Stakes.
The Finger Lakes gaming floor opened at around 10am on February 18, 2004. It marked the second such facility to open within New York State. Saratoga Gaming & Raceway opened on January 28, 2004.
The 28,267 square foot Finger Lakes gaming floor has 1,010 slot machines that feature popular titles. It was built at a cost of $10.5 million and took approximately 4 ½ months to complete.
The gaming floor employs nearly 250 permanent year-round positions.
Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack Facts
- Main Track: One mile, oval
- Track Surface: Sandy Loam
- Length of Stretch: 960 feet
- Chutes for 6 furlong & 1¼ mile races: Yes
- Distance from last turn to finish line: 960 feet
- Slot Machine Gaming Floor Area: 28,267 square foot
- Number of Slot Machines: 1,010
Finger Lakes Racetrack Records
| DISTANCE | HORSE (Age) | WGT. | TIME | DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 furlongs | Broadway Blondie (5) | 116 | 0:21 4/5 | 4/3/1998 |
| 4 1/2 furlongs | Top End (7) | 115 | 0:50 3/5 | 4/8/1998 |
| 5 furlongs | Wonderous Wise (6) Bobby's Code (6) | 115 116 | 0:57 1/5 0:57 1/5 | 4/11/1989 4/8/1998 |
| 5 1/2 furlongs | Hilary Star (6) With It (5) What A Rollick (3) | 111 115 117 | 1:02 4/5 1:02 4/5 1:02 4/5 | 4/16/1989 6/12/1994 12/12/1994 |
| 6 furlongs | Kelly Kip (4) | 119 | 1:08 1/5 | 6/20/1998 |
| 1 mile | Transact (4) Fling N Roll (4) | 119 116 | 1:36 1/5 1:36 1/5 | 8/29/1994 11/29/1995 |
| 1 mile & 70 yds. | C B Account (4) | 116 | 1:40 | 7/6/1997 |
| 1 mile & 1/16 | Fit For Royalty (9) | 119 | 1:43 | 5/19/1997 |
| 1 mile & 1/8 | Copper Mount (3) | 119 | 1:48 4/5 | 8/27/1994 |
| 1 mile & 3/16 | North Warning (10) | 113 | 1:58 2/5 | 7/10/1994 |
| 1 mile & 1/4 | Caramba (6) | 114 | 2:05 1/5 | 7/11/1987 |
| 1 mile & 1/2 | Brave Beast (6) | 124 | 2:33 3/5 | 9/22/1991 |
| 1 mile & 5/8 | North Warning (10) | 119 | 2:46 3/5 | 9/4/1994 |
History of Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack
Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack opened on May 23, 1962. Approximately 9,200 fans watched as Pure Village took the inaugural race at Finger Lakes with a winning time of 1:17 3/5 for six furlongs.
On September 24, 1978, Steve Cauthen, fresh off guiding Affirmed to a Triple Crown sweep in 1978, attracted a crowd of 11,030 that wagered a single-day, on-track record of $765,580.
One of Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack's greatest pride is the horse Fio Rio. He dominated at the track throughout his career, winning 19 of 27 starts. In 1981, he was named New York State Horse of the Year, for winning the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga. Upon his passing in 1996 at the age of 21, he was buried in the Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack infield.
The total amount wagered annually on Finger Lakes racing has grown from $14.3 million in 1962 to nearly $200 million in 2002. Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack enjoyed its most successful season ever in 1999 when fans wagered over $208 million.
Throughout four decades of operation, Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack has seen some of the greatest jockeys and thoroughbreds in the history of the sport grace its grounds. Hall of Fame riders such as Angel Cordero, Pat Day, Julie Krone and Bill Shoemaker have demonstrated their skills at Finger Lakes. Meanwhile, thoroughbred sensations like Groovy, Safely Kept and Not Surprising are among the horses that showed off their form at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack.
Place a bet on your favorite horse or play your favorite casino game now.