The 2023 racing season at Yonkers Raceway kicks off on Monday night (Jan. 16) with an 11-race program and some new surprises for bettors and on-track patrons.
A $40,000 Open Handicap Pace (race eight) is the feature on the card and the headliner is Crunch Time A (post three, driver George Brennan, trainer Nik Drennan). A seven-year-old gelding by Somebeachsomewhere, Crunch Time A is making his Yonkers debut after a four-for-four run over at the Meadowlands since being imported. He'll take on the likes of Nandolo N (post two, Jason Bartlett, Shane Tritton), who closed out last year with two straight victories in Westchester.
Monday night's program also has a $10,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick 5. A 50-cent base wager, the sequence begins in the fifth race.
Fans attending the races live on Monday will notice a new state-of-the-art toteboard that was installed shortly before the conclusion of the 2022 season. The toteboard, which should greatly improve the on-track experience, is also capable of showing live video and replays.
Yonkers will also unveil a new slanted starting gate in the hopes of improving the chances for outside horses and providing a more even start for the entire field. The old starting gate had a two-foot differential from posts one to eight, while the new gate is supposed to have an eight-foot differential.
The new gate is expected to arrive imminently and track officials will test it with horses from the backstretch prior to the first live card on Monday.
To start off 2023, Yonkers will conduct live racing on a Monday through Friday schedule with a new post time of 7 p.m. (EST).
(Yonkers Raceway)