Narrator and host Freddie Hudson, on this week’s Harness Racing Alumni Show, shares the interesting story of how Yonkers Raceway and the New York Yankees came to being.
Back in 1897, the Driving Club of New York with over 500 members (which included William Vanderbilt, William Rockefeller & Oliver Belmont) found themselves without a racetrack to conduct their Standardbred competitions after Fleetwood Park raceway was sold. William H. Clarke, the founder of Yonkers Raceway, lost everything in the building of the track and his tragic death came less than 6 months after the new track’s completion. It’s a fascinating history lesson for everyone that loves harness racing. All on this week’s broadcast.