Yonkers Daily Voice
Some New York lawmakers are mounting up for what may be their most daunting political race yet.
Assembly members Shelley Mayer (D-Yonkers) and Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon) will be among the New York state legislators who take to the track Saturday at the Yonkers Raceway.
The group will grab the reins and try harness racing as they participate in the annual Legislators Pace, part of the annual Fall Harvest Festival at the Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway.
Not to worry – organizers say the lawmakers are well taken care of in their sulkies.
“Each participating elected official has been trained to harness-race and will be accompanied by a professional driver in the sulky for the race,” Empire City spokesperson Taryn Duffy said in a statement.
The event includes 11 legislators from around the state, ranging from Long Island to New York City and as far away as Rochester and St. Lawrence County. The group is set to hit the starting gate at 5:30 p.m., with three races in 15-minute intervals.
Now in its fourth year, the casino’s Harvest Festival is a four-hour evening event that organizers tout as family fun.
“The event is held every year to highlight the agricultural industries of New York state, and the thriving horse racing industry that sustains tens of thousands of jobs throughout the state,” Duffy said.
Beginning at 5:30 p.m., vendors from across the state will gather trackside, providing samples of their New York products, including sweet corn, pumpkins, cupcakes, peanut butter, fudge, beer, wine and more.