Neighbor News
Yonkers Raceway Begins 2016 Season, Bartlett Looks to Defend Title
Yonkers Raceway begins their 2016 season this Thursday at 7pm where driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Rene Allard look to defend their title
Leading driver Jason Bartlett and top conditioner Rene Allard are set to defend their respective titles at Yonkers Raceway as Empire City Casino’s historic half mile oval rings in its 2016 racing season on Thursday night, January 7.
Last year’s 230-program season concluded on December 13, and saw Bartlett roll along to a fifth Yonkers title. The 34-year-old native of Augusta, ME, easily outdistanced George Brennan, 466 wins to 377. Bartlett was also the busiest reinsman at the Hilltop oval with 2,405 dash assignments, compiling a 19.4 win percentage, and amassing more than $8.8 million in purses.
Brian Sears (345 wins), Dan Dube (320) and Tyler Buter (234) rounded out the top five in victories.
Find out what's happening in New Rochellefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Allard, a 28-year-old native of Quebec, won a hotly-contested battle with two-time defending champ Ron Burke, taking the trainer’s championship with 181 wins (26.2 win percentage). Burke had 173 victories, but did lead in starters (815) and purses ($4.8 million), a solid $1.7 million more than Allard.
Richard Banca (160 wins), Jeffrey Bamond Jr. (108) and Gilberto Garcia-Herrera (91) completed the top five.
Find out what's happening in New Rochellefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Bartlett has assignments in 11 of 12 races (except for the second) on Thursday night, and is listed behind several horses in all but the opener and finale, and here they are: First Race: Hustleonhome; Third Race: Kim’s Day, Derek Delight, Bad Girl Vegas; Fourth Race: Brussels Hanover, Lean On Yourself; Fifth Race: A Plus Hanover, Pam’s Legacy; Sixth Race: Double Your Bet, Shadios; Seventh Race: OK Galahad, Ziggy Sky, Grandpa Don; Eighth Race: Fanticipation, The Filly Princess, Ameritime; Ninth Race: Playaway N, I Do It Myself; Tenth Race: Twin B Famous; Hardts Or Bettor, Electric Chapel N; Eleventh Race: Canaco Star, Elisaverta N; Twelfth Race: Image of Felicia.
Allard will trigger seven starters, and they are as follows:Third Race: Kiddie McCardle; Fourth Race: Champagne Shower; Sixth Race: Just Plain Luck; Ninth Race: Little Miss Henry; Tenth Race: Uncle Goodfellow: Eleventh Race: Wanna Rock N Roll: Twelfth Race: Kaitlyn Rae.
