Parlez-vous français? (Do you speak French?) At Empire City Casino’s historic Yonkers Raceway, the answer will be oui, oui starting this Sunday, November 9. Yonkers, which received approval from the NYS Gaming Commission to conduct six Sunday matinee cards, will offer its trotting races from November 9th through December 14th to French pari-mutuel agencies.

“The plan is to ‘commingle’ wagering pools – meaning to have the other countries’ players wager directly into our pools and vice versa,” says Joe Faraldo, President of the SOA of NY. “The wagering will not only be in France – Austria, Germany, Holland, Luxemburg, Switzerland, parts of Spain and Malta will also be included. The idea is to also go beyond those countries to New Zealand and Australia, into South America, Africa, Eastern Europe and as far as one can span the globe.” Wagering from the French hubs is expected to be in the 1 million Euros vicinity for each week.

The races will be the Crème de la crème, meaning, of course, the “best of the best” with first post at 11:00 AM each week. The move by Yonkers Vice President and COO Bob Galterio seems more like a good idea that a faux pas. For trotting fans it will be the Joie de vivre.

“We think this endeavor could lead to more international simulcasting in the future, which would be extremely beneficial to racing throughout New York State,” says Galterio. “We appreciate the cooperation of our racing friends across the Atlantic.”

French harness racing aficionados are now liking the yonkers-france facebook page, and visiting Yonkers-france.com (all in French, visit http://www.yonkers-france.com/) which were recent additions to their social media. As the famed “French Chef” Julia Child might have said to the trotting connoisseur, bon appétit.

And it will be Déjà-vu all over again when the famed International Trot returns to Yonkers Raceway next year after a 20 year hiatus. American flag-carrier Natural Herbie took the International Preview on October 25 in a precursor to the revived global trot, expected to carry a $1 million purse.
(from )

empirecitycasino.com

• This event has passed.
  November 9, 2014 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
  and every week until December 14, 2014

  November 9, 2014 11:00 to November 9, 2014 04:00
• Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway
  810 Yonkers Avenue, Yonkers, NY

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• Contact Frank Drucker for more information
  9149684200 or [email protected]
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