The return of the International Trot to Yonkers Raceway on Saturday after a 20-year absence has more to do with attempting to resuscitate an ailing industry than the competitive spirit.
Ten starters representing six countries will pursue a $1 million purse that will make the International the richest trotting race in the history of New York State. But the success of the event will be measured by the amount wagered at simulcast centers several thousand miles away.
“What we think is very big is the future of simulcasting,” said Tim Rooney, whose family has owned Yonkers Raceway since 1972.