A New York Tradition: Driving Economic Benefits for All
New Yorkers for Harness Racing is proud to support the harness racing industry, which brings economic benefits to communities throughout the state and excitement to racing fans worldwide.
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Driving New York’s Economy
Harness racing supports thousands of full-time jobs and generates over $400 million in economic benefits annually.* The harness racing industry supports a network of more than 100 breeding farms, training centers and boarding facilities statewide, which are critical for many communities, particularly in rural New York.
The businesses that support the racing industry, many of which are family-owned and run, help to keep farmlands in service, preserve open space and provide job opportunities throughout New York State.
* Statistics from the Empire State Harness Horse Alliance 2024 Economic Impact Study.
Ripple Effects Beyond the Track
New York’s harness racing industry brings benefits well beyond the track, as money flows into the local community and provides indirect benefits through agriculture, farm equipment and construction, animal health services, racetrack jobs and increasing tourism.
Benefits are felt in every community and region where the state’s seven harness tracks are located, as well as the areas surrounding the breeding and agricultural farms that support the harness racing teams.
The Pinnacle of Harness Racing
New York harness racing is recognized throughout the world for the quality of our competitions, the dedication of our community of fans and our ability to support the interests of our owners, trainers, drivers, breeders and grooms. New York-resident mares and stallions have outstanding performance in the breeding shed and on the racetrack, and New York stallions are among the leading national earners and their offspring are highly sought after by breeders.
The breeding and racing of standardbreds in the state are interconnected, which generates the largest possible impact on the economy. Racing at the state’s seven pari-mutuel harness tracks generates capital investments, local jobs and state and local taxes, while the breeding industry drives yearling auctions in the state and agricultural benefits like the purchase of farm equipment and farm products and the preservation of working farmlands.
Through the New York Sire Stakes program, New York-bred horses race at all seven tracks and 19 state agricultural fairs. In 2024, the New York Sire Stakes program distributed $12.7 million in purses to New York-bred standardbreds.* Those purses are the catalyst for harness racing’s economic impact as the funds flow to breeders, trainers and training centers, agricultural farms and our local communities.
* Source: 2024 New York Sire Stakes Annual Report.
Experience the Sport
You can watch upcoming harness races at seven racetracks across New York state:
Batavia Downs, Buffalo Raceway, Monticello Raceway, Saratoga Casino Hotel, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs and Yonkers Raceway.
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Sign Up for Updates!
The harness racing industry has ignited an economic engine benefitting all New Yorkers. Sign up for future industry updates and to read the recent economic impact study on the standardbred horse racing industry in New York.
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