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Finger Lakes Receives Safety Re-Accreditation

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced April 18 that Finger Lakes in Farmington, N.Y., has earned re-accreditation from the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance.

Big Apple Triple to Carry $250,000 Bonus

A $250,000 bonus will be awarded to the connections of a horse that sweeps this year's Big Apple Triple, a series of races for New York-bred 3-year-olds at Belmont Park, Finger Lakes Racetrack, and Saratoga Race Course.

Finger Lakes Embarks on Expansion Project

Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack has started construction on a $12 million expansion of its video lottery terminal facility.

Sabini Stepping Down as Chief NY Regulator

New York's chief regulator of the racing industry is stepping down Jan. 11, just weeks before a new uber-agency to oversee all gambling related activities in the state comes to life.

James Bond Records 1,000th Victory

New York trainer H. James Bond earned his 1,000th career victory when Messorio scored by five lengths in the fourth race at Finger Lakes Sept. 28.

Conference Focuses On Horse Aftercare

This year's Albany Law School Institute on Racing and Gaming Law devoted a full day to matters of equine health, focusing primarily on Thoroughbred retirement and aftercare.

NY Racinos: Payments Outpace Vegas and AC

New York's racetracks say they contributed more in various tax and revenue-sharing funding during the first six months of the year than the casinos on the Las Vegas strip and Atlantic City combined.

Finger Lakes Ready for 50th Racing Season

Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack in western New York will celebrate its 50th year of Thoroughbred racing with a 163-day meet that begins April 20.

Jockey Grabowski Retires to Become Trainer

Jockey John Grabowski, the six-time leading rider at Finger Lakes in Farmington, N.Y., has retired and will begin a training career next year.

Davila, Grusmark Get Milestone Wins

Jockey John Davila Jr. and trainer Karl Grusmark each recorded milestone victories Nov. 14 at Finger Lakes Casino and Racetrack.

Finger Lakes Jockey Osorio Dies

Finger Lakes jockey Jose David Osorio died at his residence Oct. 4.

NY Breeding Fund Approves Purse Enhancements

The board of the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund has approved $820,000 in purse enhancements to Finger Lakes Racetrack and the New York Racing Association.

Tamarind Hall Leads Bed o'Longshots

Tamarind Hall, a 15-1 shot, leads three longshots across the wire first July 2 in Belmont's Bed o'Roses Handicap (gr. III). Hilda's Passion, the 3-10 favorite, finishes sixth.

Raymond LeCesse, Raced Fio Rito, Dies

Raymond LeCesse, the first owner to win a grade I stakes with a New York-bred, died June 5 in Rochester, N.Y.

Finger Lakes Accredited By NTRA Alliance

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced April 12 that Finger Lakes Casino and Racetrack in Farmington, N.Y., has been fully accredited by the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance.

Courageous Comet Looking to Shine at WEG

Courageous Comet, a retired Thoroughbred ridden by Becky Holder, is looking to make his mark at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, which started Sept. 25.

Vic Zast's Saratoga Diary: Feel Good Game

Everything that makes Saratoga incomparable was available -- from inspirational horse racing to irrational pleasures such as faux diamond rings.

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Ibboyee Big Favorite in New York Derby

Ibboyee is the 4-5 morning-line choice for the $150,000 New York Derby at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack July 17.

F-T's Blue Horse Charities Awards $218,685

Blue Horse Charities, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fasig-Tipton, is awarding $218,685 to 52 non-profit Thoroughbred adoption and retraining centers this year. The non-profit charities were chosen to receive grants based on the number of horses they placed into new permanent homes after retirement from racing.

Finger Lakes Jockeys Get Mount Fee Raise

For the second time in a year and a half, losing mount fees for jockeys at Finger Lakes have been increased.

NY Official: Racetracks Hurt Racinos' Profit

New York's lottery director caused a bit of a stir this week when he suggested to state lawmakers that racetracks are a drag on the profitability of their racino operations - leading to less money going to the state's education budget.

Tin Cup Chalice Euthanized After Injury

Tin Cup Chalice, the first horse to sweep the Big Apple Triple for 3-year-olds bred in New York, and another horse were both euthanized Friday, April 17, following a training accident at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack in western New York.

Big Brown, Curlin Items Being Auctioned

Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program's (at Purple Haze Center) fourth annual Winners Round-Up Dinner is auctioning Big Brown and Curlin Halters on Ebay prior to the Sept. 19 event.

Exercise Rider Buckley Critical

Parker Buckley, a former jockey who was working as an exercise rider for trainer Steve Asmussen, is in critical condition following an Aug. 18 accident at Saratoga's Oklahoma training track.

Former Gulfstream Announcer Dead

Ross Morton, Gulfstream Park's announcer for 23 years and Finger Lakes' announcer throughout its 46-year history, died the night of Feb. 20 in Hollywood after suffering a massive stroke. He was 74.

NY Breeders' Futurity Offers Largest Purse in Finger Lakes History

The 45th renewal of the New York Breeders' Futurity, set to be held Oct. 6 at Finger Lakes Racetrack, offers the largest purse in the history of the Western New York track with $269,200 available to New York-bred 2-year-olds sprinting six furlongs over the dirt.

A Day At The Spa: Aug. 1, Dominion Award Day

Once there was a horse named Dominion, a determined runner who put Cot Campbell's Dogwood Stable colors in front of the racing world at tracks from Chicago to Saratoga. He was a blue-collar horse with rarely seen determination--he would run on the dirt, turf, soft, hard, long, short--and he would lay his heart on the line to get to the front and stay there.

Funny Cide Responds to Hero's Welcome

Four years removed from making a run at a Triple Crown, even-money choice Funny Cide returned to the winner's circle at Finger Lakes, a track far removed from the majesty of Churchill Downs.

Funny Cide Adds Bang to Finger Lakes Holiday Card

Sackatoga Stable's Funny Cide, winner of the 2003 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I), figures to draw a large holiday crowd to Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack July 4 when he competes in the $100,000 Wadsworth Memorial Handicap at the upstate New York track.

Retired Finger Lakes Jockey Jose Olivares Dead

Jose Olivares, a retired jockey and member of the Oriental Park Hall of Fame at Calder Race Course, died Jan. 17 at his home in Tampa, Fla., of an apparent heart attack.

Filly Chief Officer Romps in N.Y. Breeders' Futurity

Chief Officer broke right to the front and never looked back on her way to a 5 1/2-length victory in the $250,518 New York Breeders' Futurity at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack in Farmington, N.Y., on Monday.

Green 'Thumb' Hinges on New York Revenue Model

Finger Lakes Gaming & Racing will add almost 200 video lottery terminals as part of a $4-million expansion, but a top official with owner Delaware North indicated major racing-related projects, such as installation of a turf course and perhaps a synthetic surface, are closely linked to the VLT revenue model in New York.

The Heat is On: Weather Halts Racing at Saratoga, Other Tracks

Extreme heat in the East is taking its toll on racing, as six tracks cancelled racing for either Tuesday or Wednesday. Among the most prominent cancellations was Saratoga, which called off live racing for Wednesday.

Jockey Nicol Reaches 3,000-Win Mark

Paul Nicol Jr. enjoyed Tuesday's wet weather at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack when he passed the 3,000 mark in career wins. The 45-year-old from Annapolis, Md., joins Leslie Hulet and Kevin Whitley as the only Finger Lakes jockeys to reach the milestone.

Delaware North Names Vice President of Finance

Michael Corbin has been named to the new position of vice president of finance for Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, which is expanding from a racing company to a full-scale hospitality company.

Finger Lakes Adoption Programs Find New Homes for 183 Horses

A total of 183 Finger Lakes Race Track Thoroughbreds found new homes in 2005 through volunteer efforts of the Exceller Fund and the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program.

Despite 'Broken' Model, NYRA Franchise Considered Premium

As racing industry leaders discussed the value of Thoroughbred racing at New York's three premier tracks, the company that owns the state's fourth Thoroughbred track, Finger Lakes Gaming & Racing, said it could pursue the New York Racing Association franchise.

Finger Lakes Rider Davila Wins 2,000th Race

Jockey John Davila Jr. earned the 2,000th win of his career Friday when he partnered Hold That Glitter to a 3 3/4-length win in the fourth race at Finger Lakes.

Trainer Ferraro Collects 1,000th Career Win

Trainer M. Anthony Ferraro earned his 1,000th career victory on Friday at Finger Lakes in New York when 2-year-old Go Stan Israelite won the day's first race by a nose.

Accountforthegold Leads Way in New York Derby

Accountforthegold led every step of the way while setting a stakes record in the $168,400 New York Derby for New York-bred 3-year-olds at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack on Saturday.

Olivares Named to Finger Lakes Hall of Fame

Former jockey Jose Olivares, whose career was cut short after being paralyzed in a spill at Finger Lakes in 1970, has been named the 15th member of the Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack Hall of Fame. An induction ceremony is scheduled to take place July 16 between the fifth and sixth races at the New York track.

Finger Lakes Ready to Begin New Season

Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack will kick off its 161-day meet April 15 with a stakes schedule and overnight purses comparable with those of last year.

Finger Lakes Owner Signs On With 'Friends'

The company that owns Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack and operates video lottery terminals at two upstate New York harness tracks has joined the board of directors of Friends of New York Racing, the advocacy organization that seeks to create a better business model for horse racing in the state.

Zippy Chippy: From Hapless Loser to Movie Star?

Zippy Chippy, the 13-year-old gelding whose winless career in 100 starts has been well-publicized, apparently has been retired by owner-trainer Felix Monserrate.

New York Woman Charged in 'Horse Rescue' Case

New York State Police have charged a former part-time Emergency Medical Technician at Finger Lakes Racetrack in connection with a scheme to defraud horse owners by telling them she would take their horses and find safe homes for them.

Finger Lakes Alters Schedule for late October, November

Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack in New York has announced that it will eliminate four consecutive Sundays from its live racing schedule beginning Oct. 24, and add an equal number of Thursday dates beginning Oct. 28 in an effort to increase off-track handle opportunities.

Now 0-For-98, Zippy Chippy to Try Yet Again

Zippy Chippy, the popular 13-year-old maiden who has failed to earn a victory in 98 career starts, will give it another shot when he makes his 2004 debut Sept. 4 at the Three-County Fair in Northampton, Mass.

Weather Halts Racing at Finger Lakes

Live racing was cancelled Monday at Finger Lakes racetrack in Farmington, N. Y. due to weather conditions in the area over the past couple of days, according to a release from the track.

Free-Pass Bill Approved by New York Legislature

The New York Racing Association can give free passes to relatives of owners, trainers, and jockeys under a bill approved by the state legislature, but state regulators must be notified.

Don Corleone Makes Iorio Family Ecstatic

Don Corleone, with journeyman jockey Dean Frates astride, pulled off the biggest upset in the 32-year history of the New York Derby at Finger Lakes Racetrack on Saturday.