Finger Lakes

Located in the heart of the beautiful Finger Lakes region in New York, Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack has become a favorite among residents and tourists alike. In February 2004, the property experienced a tremendous resurgence, following the addition of video gaming machines to the facility. Over 1.5 million visitors enjoyed gaming and racing in 2006.

It all began on May 23, 1962, as Pure Village took the inaugural race at Finger Lakes with a winning time of 1:17 3/5 for six furlongs. Throughout decades of racing excitement, Finger Lakes has seen some of the greatest jockeys and Thoroughbreds in the history of the sport grace its grounds.

On September 24, 1978, Steve Cauthen, fresh off guiding Affirmed to a Triple Crown Sweep, attracted a crowd of 11,030, wagering a single-day on track record of $765,580. Other Hall of Fame riders to ride at Finger Lakes include Angel Cordero, Pat Day, Julie Krone, and Bill Shoemaker.

Fio Rito stands above all other horses in Finger Lakes racing lore. In 1981, Fio Rito, a local-based horse, named New York State Horse of the Year in 1980, stepped into the national spotlight by winning the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga. Fio Rito dominated at Finger Lakes throughout his career, winning 19 of 27 starts. His overall career included 28 wins in 50 starts and $611,142 in earnings. Unfortunately, his career ended suddenly due to an injury suffered in the 1981 Woodward Stakes. Upon his passing in 1996 at the age of 21, Fio Rito was buried in the Finger Lakes infield- the only horse buried on the Finger Lakes grounds.

In 2002, Finger Lakes introduced an Equine Swim Facility. The aquatic facility is one of only a handful on track grounds in the country. Swimming provides horses an excellent means of cardiovascular and muscle conditioning, as well as physical therapy and rehabilitation from ailments that may prevent their training via traditional methods. It is a valuable option for trainers to provide conditioning to their stable.

Finger Lakes hosts several stakes each year, headlined by the New York Derby in July. The Derby is the second leg of the Big Apple Triple for New York-bred 3-year-olds, which begins with the Mike Lee Handicap at Belmont Park^® in late June, and concludes with the Albany Handicap at Saratoga in mid-August. The New York Breeders' Futurity on Labor Day is also a highlight as the New York-bred program continues its rapid rise in stature. In 2006, the Futurity featured the largest purse in the history of the track at just over $250,000.

At the conclusion of its 45th season of operation, the only Thoroughbred track in Western New York has entertained more than 19 million racing fans, who have combined to wager over $1.7 billion. Off-track patrons have contributed an additional $3 billion to the handle, bringing the all-time wagering total on Finger Lakes racing to just over $4.7 billion.