Yonkers to offer “Stake Your Claim” series

MGM Yonkers Raceway will be offering a handful of “Stake Your Claim” claiming series harness racing events for a variety of classes next month.

Two events will begin on Tuesday, February 6, both for filly and mare pacers. The first is for horses carrying a $50,000 tag and the other is for $20,000 claimers. Each series will have three legs and a final, with the third leg claiming price getting a $5,000 bump to $55,000 and $25,000, respectively. The $50,000 claimers will then carry a price of $60,000 in their $36,000 final, while the $20,000 claimers go for $30,000 tags in their $26,000 final.

Beginning Wednesday, February 7, $15,000 claiming pacers will begin their series. The third leg will see the price hiked to $20,000 and then $25,000 for the $22,000 final.

Next up is $40,000 claiming pacers commencing their series on Monday, February 12. They will carry tags of $45,000 in the third leg and $50,000 in the final, which will go for a purse of $36,000.

Finally, $40,000 claiming trotters get underway on Tuesday, February 13. That class will see the same bump in value for the third leg ($45,000) and $36,000 final ($50,000).

If any of the “Stake Your Claim” events fail to get enough horses for two divisions these series will not be contested. Point totals for each series will follow the purse distribution percentages – 50, 25, 12, 8 and 5 – to decide who makes the final.

“I am very happy to offer a new, fresh claiming series,” said Racing Secretary Joe Frasure.

The entry box closes Wednesday, January 31 at 3 P.M. (EST) for the first set of races.

From Yonkers Raceway