Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack

Corporate Name: Finger Lakes Racing Association, Inc.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 25250, Farmington, New York 14425
Street Address: 5857 Route 96, Farmington, New York 14425 (click for map)
Telephone: (585) 924-3232
Fax: General Offices: (585) 924-3967; Publicity: (585) 924-7275; General Manager: (585) 924-3239;
Simulcast Coordinator: (585) 924-7856
Website: www.fingerlakesracetrack.com

Located in the heart of the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York, and known nationally for its abundant wineries, recreational activities and spectacular vistas, Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack has developed into a favorite stop for local residents and the thousands of tourists who visit the area annually.

Finger Lakes has seen some of the greatest jockeys and Thoroughbreds in the history of the sport grace its grounds, including Hall of Fame riders Angel Cordero, Pat Day, Julie Krone and Billy Shoemaker. On September 28, 1978, Steve Cauthen, fresh off guiding Affirmed to a Triple Crown sweep in 1978, attracted a crowd of 11,030 that wagered a single-day, on-track record of $765,580.

No appearance was more exciting than Funny Cide’s run in the $100,000 Wadsworth Memorial Handicap on July 4, 2007. This first-ever Kentucky Derby winner to race at Finger Lakes did so in style, charging from behind and pulling away down the stretch to win in what later turned out to be the final race of his distinguished career. More than 11,000 were on hand that day, the largest crowd since Finger Lakes’ inaugural in 1962.

Fio Rito, however, stands above all others in the Finger Lakes racing lore. In 1981, Fio Rito, a locally based horse who was named New York State Horse of the Year in 1980, stepped into the national spotlight by winning the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga. Fio Rito dominated at Finger Lakes throughout his career, winning 19 of 27 starts. Upon his passing in 1996 at the age of 21, Fio Rito was buried in the Finger Lakes infield.

Since 2004, Finger Lakes has transformed itself into a multi-faceted entertainment destination. Following the addition of video gaming machines in February 2004, the property has experienced a tremendous resurgence, with more than 2 million visitors enjoying gaming and racing annually.

In 2013, a $12 million expansion to the gaming facility saw the addition of 350 additional games, Remedy, a new bar/lounge featuring a full stage for enhanced entertainment capabilities, and a micro-brewery at Seven’s Bar.

President: Christian Riegle
Directors: E. Brian Hansberry, Christian Riegle, Jeff Tapis, David Frankhouser, Steve Martin
General Manager: Christian Riegle, ext. 201
Director of Operations: Phil Palermo, ext. 233
Racing Secretary: Bill Couch, ext. 273
Publicity and Media: Steve Martin, ext. 235
Simulcast Coordinator/Mutuel Manager: Patrick Placido, ext. 236
Owner Relations Contact: Kim DeLong, ext. 202
Photographer: SV Photography
Track Announcer: Tony Calo
Track Caterer: Finger Lakes Foodservice
Location: Farmington, New York (3 miles E. of Victor; 7 miles N. of Canandaigua)
Nearest City: Rochester (20 miles NW); Area population: 1.1 million
Track Data: 1-mile oval; sandy loam; 6-furlong and 1¼-mile chutes; length of the stretch, 960 feet; stable accommodations, 1,214
Seating: Grandstand, 4,000; Clubhouse, 2,000
Price of Admission: Free
Minimum Age Admitted: No minimum
Parking Facilities: 4,000 vehicles; no charge for parking; valet parking available