Racing about to Resume in New York State

By Dave Di Somma - Harness News Desk

Harness racing is set to resume in New York State, with Governor Andrew Cuomo announcing tracks will re-open on June 1 without fans.

"If you can have economic activity without a crowd, that's great," he said. "We can do that in this state and we're going to do that."

Among the venues scheduled to re-open are :

- Batavia Downs

- Belmont Park

- Buffalo Raceway

- Monticello Raceway

- Saratoga Raceway

- Tioga Downs

-Vernon Downs

- Yonkers Raceway

The decision to re-open comes at a time when there have been over 1.5 million cases of COVID-19 in the USA, with more than 90,000 deaths. New York has been a hotbed for the coronavirus with the death toll estimated to be close to around 25,000.

Neighbouring New Jersey has had around 10,000 deaths but it plans to follow New York’s lead and open racetracks like the famed Meadowlands in early June. Its last meeting was on March 14 while in Columbus Ohio Scioto Downs have had their first qualifying races in preparation of their re-opening this weekend.

Harness Racing in New Zealand resumes at Addington on May 29, with Ascot Park in Invercargill and Cambridge Raceway holding meetings on May 30 and 31.