Monticello Raceway
Encyclopedia
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
racing track, and home to a relatively new racino
Racino
A racino is a combined race track and casino. In some cases, the gambling is limited to slot machines, but many locations are beginning to include table games such as blackjack, poker, and roulette....
, in Monticello
Monticello, New York
Monticello is a village located in the Town of Thompson in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 6,512 at the 2000 census. It is the seat for the Town of Thompson and the county seat of Sullivan County...
, Sullivan County, New York
Sullivan County, New York
Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 77,547. The county seat is Monticello. The name is in honor of Major General John Sullivan, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War...
. It is off Exit 104 of Route 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
(future Interstate 86
Interstate 86 (east)
Interstate 86 is an Interstate Highway that extends for through northwestern Pennsylvania and southern New York in the United States...
), on New York State Route 17B
New York State Route 17B
New York State Route 17B is a state highway located entirely within Sullivan County, New York. It connects the hamlet of Callicoon at its western end with the Monticello area in the east .-Route description:From its terminus at NY 97 in the hamlet of Callicoon New York State...
.
The racetrack is nicknamed "The Mighty M" and races standardbred horse races during the afternoons year round. The current racetrack is an 1/2 mile oval. The track opened on June 27, 1958, in order to serve as a stimulant to attract more people to Monticello's resort area.
Monticello Raceway is owned by Empire Resorts
Empire Resorts
Empire Resorts is a company that owns the Monticello Raceway racino in the Catskill Mountains from New York City.Headquartered in Monticello, New York, Empire is 78.6% owned by Kien Huat Realty Sdn Bhd of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.-History:...
.
Attempts since 2000 to add a full fledged Indian gaming casino via the St. Regis Mohawk tribe at the track has met with peril. Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
casino operators including Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
fought the proposal. Trump would be fined for not disclosing their lobbying efforts. In January 2008, Dirk Kempthorne
Dirk Kempthorne
Dirk Arthur Kempthorne , was the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, who served under President George W. Bush from 2006 to 2009. A Republican, Kempthorne previously served as the 30th Governor and as a U.S. Senator from Idaho...
, Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
vetoed any Mohawk plans for a casino saying the Mohawk reservation on the Canadian border was too far from the track. The casino at the raceway operates under a state license permitting slot machines at designated race tracks.
Relocation
In February 2008, Empire ResortsEmpire Resorts
Empire Resorts is a company that owns the Monticello Raceway racino in the Catskill Mountains from New York City.Headquartered in Monticello, New York, Empire is 78.6% owned by Kien Huat Realty Sdn Bhd of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.-History:...
announced that the complex would relocate to the site of the Concord Resort Hotel
Concord Resort Hotel
The Concord Resort Hotel was a world-famous destination for visitors to the so-called Borscht Belt part of the Catskills, known for its large resort industry in the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. Located in Kiamesha Lake, New York, the Concord was the largest resort in the region until its closing in 1998...
, where a new 5/8 mile (1 km) race track, gaming area and various other amenities would be built. The new complex is scheduled to open in 2010.