2008 RACING SCHEDULE AND STAKES SET

FARMINGTON, N.Y. -

With thoroughbreds set to begin arriving at the track next week to begin preparing for the 2008 meet, Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack today announced its 160-day schedule will begin on Saturday, April 19 with a 1:10 p.m. first post.  The 47th season at the Farmington oval will run through Saturday, December 6.

Post time will be 1:10 p.m. through November 1, with the only exceptions being Fridays between May 2 and August 29 when first post will be set at 12:35 p.m. Post time for October 25, Breeders’ Cup Day, has not yet been determined. Beginning November 3, post time will move to 12:15 p.m. to accommodate the end of daylight savings time.

After opening on April 19, Finger Lakes will run live on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday the remainder of the month, before eventually moving to a five-day week with the addition of Fridays and Sundays in early May.  Thursday will replace Sunday as a race day for the remainder of the season beginning the week of September 7 with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, November 27 and December 4.

2008 Stakes

The 2008 stakes schedule features 17 events with total purse levels estimated to be over $1.2 million. In terms of total purse, the New York Breeders’ Futurity on October 4 tops the schedule with an  estimated offering of $200,000.

Highlighting the 2008 schedule will be the 36th running of the $150,000 (added) New York Derby on Saturday, July 12. The New York Derby is the second leg of the Big Apple Triple for New York-bred 3-year-olds, which begins with the Mike Lee Stakes at Belmont Park on June 22, and concludes on August 20 with the Albany at Saratoga.

For the sixth consecutive season, WYSL 1040 AM will provide exclusive live coverage of selected Finger Lakes stakes action. A total of four stakes, including pre and post race analysis, will be broadcast live, including the New York Derby.

The stakes season begins with the $50,000 George W. Barker Handicap (NY-bred 3-year-olds and  up) on Memorial Day, May 26. The $50,000 Finger Lakes Juvenile (2-year-olds) wraps up the schedule on Saturday, November 1.