Night of Champions Stakes Races at Yonkers Sept 13

ALBANY, NY (09/05/2008)(readMedia)-- If you are looking for a unique and affordable night out, look no further than Empire City at Yonkers Raceway as it partners with the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund to present the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) Night of Champions races on Saturday, September 13, 2008. Post time is 6:50pm. Entry and parking is free (valet parking available for a fee).

Race fans in the grandstand will receive a free commemorative tee-shirt (while supplies last).

Be there to experience the thrill of the thundering hooves and the roaring cheers from the crowd as the New York Sire Stakes celebrates its Night of Champions! Race fans of all ages are encouraged to visit the Raceway for these exhilarating races.

The New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions is the culmination of the three-month-long NYSS harness racing season, which is specifically designed for horses bred in New York State. Here, the leading point-earning horses compete for a lucrative $1.4 million in purses.

The beginning years of the New York Sire Stakes boasted purses of just $1 million each season. As the years progressed and New York's Standardbred breeding industry grew, so too did the NYSS purses. Today the NYSS offers approximately $15 million in purses each season, holding races at all seven of New York State's harness tracks and at 22 county fairs, providing unmatched racing opportunities for the many horsemen and race fans in New York State and preserving thousands of acres of farmland and open space statewide.

Inaugurated in 1965, the New York Sire Stakes was the first program of its kind in North America and later became the model for many state-bred racing programs. The landmark legislation, known as the Laverne Law, sought to spur the standardbred breeding industry through the creation of the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund; the public benefit corporation that administers the NYSS racing program and promotes standardbred breeding within the State of New York.

With a host of restaurants to choose from, exciting live NYSS harness racing, world-class simulcasts of leading harness and thoroughbred races, and more than 5,000 video gaming machines, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway offers non-stop entertainment, making it an ideal night out for those tired of the same old scene. With continuous high stakes action highlighted by contenders with awesome skill and speed, the September 13 NYSS Night of Champions is sure to make instant fans of those new to harness racing!

For information about the New York Sire Stakes racing program, visit www.nysirestakes.com. For more information about Yonkers Raceway, visit www.yonkersraceway.com.

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