Our Community
About New Yorkers for Harness Racing
New Yorkers for Harness Racing is supported by a consortium of horsemen’s associations and breeding farms located in New York State. Through education and advocacy, New Yorkers for Harness Racing is dedicated to protecting, promoting and advancing the sport of harness racing and the standardbred horse racing industry.
To all of our great sport’s owners, trainers, drivers, grooms, breeders; for new fans and longtime supporters: your voice matters! New Yorkers for Harness Racing provides you with advocacy resources that can give us all the chance to help shape the future of New York harness racing.
Breeders and Farms
Our community extends beyond the racetrack, with over 100 breeders, farms and training facilities across New York State. These operations are foundational to the communities in which they reside and the well-being of our horses.
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.
New York has a robust community of farms, boarding and training facilities.
Racing in New York
You can experience the sport at one of our seven racetracks across New York state: Batavia Downs, Buffalo Raceway, Monticello Raceway, Saratoga Casino Hotel, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs and Yonkers Raceway.
Standardbred Aftercare
After their racing careers have ended, standardbred horses have lives filled with purpose and possibility in areas such as equestrian events (dressage, eventing and horse shows), as well as equine therapy and recreational riding.
New Yorkers for Harness Racing proudly supports efforts that promote retraining opportunities for retired racehorses. These opportunities strengthen our community connections and expand our industry’s contributions to New York’s economy.
Robust Opportunities for Professional Development and Training
New York offers a wide range of programs and institutions where professionals can prepare and train for rewarding careers in the standardbred industry – in science & management, breeding management, business management, rehabilitation & therapy and beyond. Through a robust network of opportunities, we are sustaining New York’s harness racing legacy and contributing to our local economies and communities.
Programs include:
- New York State 4-H Horse Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension;
- SUNY Morrisville Equine Rehabilitation Center;
- Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center;
- Therapeutic Horsemanship Program at SUNY Cobleskill; and
- Agricultural Business Development B.B.A. at SUNY Morrisville.
