Fall in style at Yonkers track
By DEBBIE LITTLE
October 13, 2009
THE FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL at Empire City at Yonkers Raceway will feature the best the Empire State has to offer both on and off the track.
“We want to show that we are a part of the agricultural industry in New York State,” said Yonkers Raceway vice president and general manager Bob Galterio.
In fact, 40,000 people directly or indirectly work in New York horse racing and almost a million acres of land is dedicated to the industry.
The Festival takes place on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., and features eight $50,000 races for New York bred horses while vendors display their made-in-New York goods on the track apron.
Among those expected to have products for sample and sale are Mead Orchards, Cascade Mountain Winery and the Long Island Meadery.
Mead Orchards is a picturesque, 185-acre fruit orchard and vegetable farm that has been a family owned and run farm since 1916. They now grow nearly 40 varieties of apples, as well as peaches, pears, plums, cherries, strawberries and other berries.
Cascade Mountain Winery is one of the 10 oldest wineries in NY State. They produce 3,000 cases of wine annually, as well as a Dijon-style mustard.
The Long Island Meadery produces a centuries old alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of honey, which is produced like wine, and is also referred to as honeywine.
A blacksmith demonstration will be given by one of New York's Bravest, Eric Taddeo, of Ladder Company 44 in The Bronx. With a fi refi ghter father and a blacksmith grandfather, Taddeo's profession is no surprise.
Musical entertainment will be provided by the band Back to the Garden 1969, performing music from Woodstock. There are pony rides and face painting for the kids as well as sulky and jog cart exhibits.
There will be a T-shirt giveaway and a drawing to win silks donated by the track's top driver, Jason Bartlett, and Hall of Famer Cat Manzi, among others. There will also be an autograph session with the drivers prior to the races.
Make sure to get there early for one of the most hotly contested political races of the year. Assemblymen J. Gary Pretlow and Mike Spano will take to the drivers' seats in an exhibition harness race at 6 p.m.
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