Yonkers Trot Explained

Horse Race:Yonkers Trot
Location:Yonkers, New York
Inaugurated:1955
Race Type:Harness race for standardbred trotters
Website:Empire City Casino Racing
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)

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.

Historical race events

Driven 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

Race distances

From inception in 1955 through 1962, the Yonkers Trot was raced over a distance of 1 1/16 miles (1710 metres).

Records

Most wins by a driver:
Most wins by a trainer:
Stakes record (1 mile):
Stakes record (1 1/16 miles):

Yonkers Trot winners

Year
Winner
Driver
Trainer
Owner
Time
Purse
2023Up Your DeoAke SvanstedtAke SvanstedtAke Svanstedt, Suleyman Yuksel Stables Inc., Van Camp Trotting Corp.1:53 3/5$300,000
2022Joviality SBrian SearsMarcus MelanderCourant Inc1:53 1/5$280,904
2021Johan PalemaYannick GingrasAke SvanstedtBender Sweden Inc1:55 0/0$500,000
2020No RaceNo RaceNo RaceNo Race0:00 0/0$000,000
2019GimpanzeeBrian SearsMarcus MelanderCourant Inc. & SRF Stable1:53 3/5$500,000
2018Six PackAke SvanstedtAke SvanstedtSvanstedt, Little E, Stall Kalmar & Lars Berg.1:54 0/0$500,000
2017Top Flight AngelBrian SearsJulie MillerLegendary Standardbred Farm1:56 3/5$500,000
2016Marion MarauderScott ZeronPaula WellwoodJean Wellwood, Devin Keeler 1:56 1/5$500,000
2015HabitatBrian SearsBurke Racing Stable, Our Horse Cents Stables, Weaver Bruscemi 1:54 4/5$500,000
2014NuncioJimmy TakterStall TZ Inc. (Stefan Melander)1:56 0/0$500,000
2013DewycolorinthelineRay SchnittkerRay SchnittkerSchnittker, Iannazzo, Gewertz, Baldassare & Deweycheatumnhowe Stb.1:57 3/5$450,000
2012ArchangelJim Morrill, Jr.Peter ArrigennaP. Arrigenna, Alan Hainsworth, & Clare Semer1:54 1/5$445,594
2011Leader Of The GangJimmy TakterChristina Takter, Joyce McClelland, R A W Equine, Brixton Medical Ab1:57 2/5$445,474
2010On The TabDavid MillerJimmy TakterChristina Takter, John Fielding, Louie Camara, Falkbolagen AB1:58 4/5$573,770
2009Judge JoeJimmy TakterAtlantic Trot, Inc. (Mario Zuanetti)1:56 1/5$670,774
2008NapoleonStéphane BouchardNoel DaleyLarry Thomases, Sidney Korn, John Guarniere, Ken Tucci1:57 1/5$605,854
2007Green DayCatello ManziJames D. RaymerTrillium Racing Stable (James & Mary Raymer)1:56 0/0$644,770
2006GlidemasterBlair BurgessRobert Burgess, Karin-Olsson Burgess, Marsha Cohen, Brittany Farms1:55 4/5$728,930
2005Strong YankeeBrian SearsTrond SmedshammerStrong Yankee Stable1:56 1/5$297,816
2004Windsong's LegacyTrond SmedshammerTrond SmedshammerAnn Brannvoll, Ted Gewertz, Patricia Spinelli1:53 1/5$391,200
2003Sugar TraderCatello ManziJohn BrennanJohn Brennan, John Nordstrom, John Taddeo1:58 3/5$337,229
2002Bubba DunnJeff GregoryJeffrey SmithIra Kristel 1:58 4/5$338,626
2001Banker HallTrevor RitchieHarold LundeTommy B. Andersson1:59 1/5$340,614
2000GoalfishJacqueline IngrassiaFrank IngrassiaJacqueline Ingrassia1:59 0/0$345,403
1999CR RenegadeRod AllenCarl E. AllenCarl & Rod Allen Stable 1:58 0/0$273,891
1998Muscles YankeeJohn CampbellPerretti Farms Inc, Irving G. Liverman & David French1:57 3/5$319,725
1997Lord StormontDouglas S. BrownNorman C. JonesStormont Meadows (Eric Baker)1:58 4/5$291,948
1996ContinentalvictoryRon GurfeinContinentalvictory Stable (D. Frost/H. Gold/R. & J. Silva/Stix Inc./Allister Stb.) 1:56 2/5$334,700
1995CR Kay SuzieRod AllenCarl E. AllenCarl & Rod Allen Stable1:56 0/0$276,564
1994Bullville VictoryCatello ManziPer ErikssonGraham Mottram, Tom Artandi, Palmer, Per Eriksson1:58 2/5$286,280
1993American WinnerRonald PierceMilton SmithRobert Key, & John Glesmann1:56 2/5$313,699
1992Mc Cluckey (DH)Michel LachanceJoseph HollowayRobert Suslow1:58 2/5$370,265
1992Magic Lobell (DH)Lorenzo BaldiTerje Fossheim1:58 2/5
1991Crown's InvitationMichel LachanceJerry RiordanLouis P. Guida1:59 3/5$370,393
1990Royal TroubadorCarl E. AllenCarl E. AllenCarl & Rod Allen Stable1:58 2/5$424,965
1989Valley VictorySteve ElliottArlene Traub1:58 3/5$418,810
1988Southern NewtonBerndt O. LindstedtJan JohnsonThor Christiansson2:00 0/0$431,495
1987Mack LobellJohn CampbellCharles SylvesterOne More Time Stable (L. P. Guida, et al. & Fair Winds Farm (E. Mullen))1:57 4/5$324,115
1986Gunslinger SpurRichard L. StillingsRichard L. StillingsRoy D. Davis2:00 4/5$372,503
1985Master WillieJan NordinSören NordinDr. William & Ann Allen 1:59 3/5$440,840
1984Baltic SpeedJan NordinSören NordinBaltic Farm2:01 3/5$431,780
1983Joie De VieHoward BeissingerMurray Siegel, Crown Stable, P. Nigito & Lana Lobell Farm2:00 3/5$486,150
1982Mystic ParkFrank O'MaraFrank O'MaraAllen Wechter, Dr. Robert Lester, Gerald & Irving Wechter2:00 3/5$415,160
1981Mo BandyCarl E. AllenCarl E. AllenCarl E. Allen2:02 1/5$284,701
1980Nevele ImpulseRichard MacomberRichard MacomberKarl Hubbert2:03 2/5$261,040
1979Chiola HanoverJames AllenBill VaughnAlnoff Stable (Michael, Bobby & Allan Chasanoff)2:04 0/0$237,765
1978Speedy SomolliHoward BeissingerHoward BeissingerAnn Beissinger, Barbara Mumma, Alan J. Leavitt, William Rosenberg1:59 3/5$233,594
1977Green SpeedBilly HaughtonBilly HaughtonMrs. Beverly Lloyds1:59 0/0$239,000
1976Steve LobellBilly HaughtonBilly HaughtonMill Island Stable (Richard Herman & Murray Siegel)2:01 4/5$202,004
1975Surefire HanoverStanley DancerStanley DancerRachel L. Dancer & Rose Hild Breeding Farm.2:03 0/0$200,000
1974Spitfire HanoverDelvin MillerDelvin MillerDelvin Miller2:05 2/5$125,821
1973TamerlaneCharles W. ClarkCharles W. ClarkBill & Madeline Shehan2:04 4/5$93,242
1972Super BowlStanley DancerStanley DancerRachel L. Dancer & Rose Hild Breeding Farm2:02 0/0$93,097
1971Quick PrideStanley DancerStanley DancerStanley & Rachel Dancer/Raymond Gault/Blue Chip Farms/Hilda Silverstein 2:02 4/5$110,795
1970Victory StarVernon J. DancerVernon J. DancerFury Stable (Newman Pearsall)2:03 4/5$106,770
1969Lindy's PrideHoward BeissingerHoward BeissingerLindy Farms, Inc.2:03 0/0$100,000
1968Nevele PrideStanley DancerStanley DancerNevele Acres & Louis Resnick2:03 3/5$150,000
1967PompHarry E. Pownall, Sr.Harry E. Pownall, Sr.Arden Homestead Stable (E. Roland Harriman & Elbridge T. Gerry, Sr.)2:04 4/5$150,000
1966PolarisGeorge SholtyGeorge SholtyLivio Battista2:06 0/0$123,375
1965Noble VictoryStanley DancerStanley DancerKenneth D. Owen 2:02 0/0$122,236
1964AyresJohn F. Simpson, Sr.John F. Simpson, Sr.Charlotte Sheppard2:01 3/5$116,691
1963Speedy ScotRalph N. BaldwinRalph N. BaldwinCastleton Farm2:03 3/5$135,127
1962A.C.'s VikingSanders RusselsSanders RusselsMr. & Mrs. Andrew C. Petersen2:10 4/5$105,422
1961Duke RodneyEdward T. WheelerEdward T. WheelerPatrick & Elisabeth DiGennaro2:10 3/5$100,330
1960Duke of DecaturDelvin MillerDelvin MillerWalter T. Candler 2:13 3/5$74,265
1959John A. HanoverStanley DancerStanley DancerDr. Nicholas & Angela Derrico2:11 0/0$56,397
1958Spunky HanoverHoward CamperRobert CamperFiesta Farm (Harold Large)2:13 3/5$56,157
1957Hoot SongRalph N. BaldwinRalph N. BaldwinTwo Gaits Farm (Leo C. McNamara)2:16 1/5$57,812
1956Add HanoverJohn F. Simpson, Sr.John F. Simpson, Sr.A. C. Mudge2:12 4/5$77,170
1955Scott FrostJoe O'BrienS. A. Camp Farms2:12 0/0$73,840

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.harnessmuseum.com/content/scott-frost Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame bio for Scott Frost
  2. https://www.harnessracingupdate.com/2016/09/02/hollywoods-hits-yonkers-trot-years/ Harness Racing Update.com September 2, 2016 article titled "Hollywood's Hits: Yonkers Trot through the years"
  3. https://www.harnessracingupdate.com/2016/09/02/hollywoods-hits-yonkers-trot-years/ Harness Racing Update.com September 2, 2016 article titled "Hollywood's Hits: Yonkers Trot through the years"
  4. https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/27/sports/horse-racing-ingrassia-is-first-woman-to-win-the-yonkers-trot.html New York Times August 27, 2000 article titled "Ingrassia Is First Woman To Win the Yonkers Trot"
  5. http://www.harnessracingupdate.com/2016/10/14/hollywoods-hits-deeper-look-marion-marauders-triple-crown/ Harness Racing Update.com October 14, 2016 article titled "Hollywood's Hits: A deeper look at Marion Marauder's Triple Crown"
  6. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-08-29/sports/0408290260_1_kentucky-futurity-triple-crown-trotters Chicago Tribune August 29, 2004 article by Neil Milbert titled "Windsong's Legacy rolls in Yonkers"
  7. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-08.../0408260332_1_hambletonian-races-hawthorne Chicago Tribune August 26, 2004 article titled "Trotting's Triple Crown takes trip to Hawthorne"
  8. http://xwebapp.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/templates/article.aspx?articleid=11163 USTA August 20, 2005 article by Don Bielak titled "Strong Yankee wins Yonkers Trot"