Thoroughbreds at the Finger Lakes casino racetrack
Most New York racinos are harness tracks, so the Finger Lakes casino stands apart with its thoroughbred meet. The 2026 calendar runs from April 27 to November 25, almost always on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. That leaves weekends to the gaming floor and to simulcast signals from the big tracks downstate and elsewhere.
The first post is usually 12:55 p.m., moving to 12:10 p.m. in November. Cards run seven to nine races about 29 minutes apart. On live days the Lower Club opens at 11:30 a.m., and families of all ages can enter there to watch. Simulcast betting on other tracks is offered daily except Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
| Date (2026) | Stakes | Purse |
|---|---|---|
| May 25 | George W. Barker Stakes | $50,000 |
| July 13 | New York Derby | $150,000 (est.) |
| July 13 | New York Oaks | $75,000 |
| September 21 | Lady Finger and Aspirant Stakes | $100,000 each (est.) |
| October 12 | New York Breeders’ Futurity | $175,000 (est.) |
| November 9 | Tin Cup Chalice and Shesastonecoldfox Stakes | $45,000 each |
Nearly every stakes race is restricted to New York-breds, and none is graded. The New York Derby, over 1 1/16 miles, is the headline. Bettors will find the standard menu of win, place, show, exactas, trifectas, superfectas and multi-race pick bets, explained in our pari-mutuel betting guide, plus a mandatory daily payout on the early pick 5.
Racetrack history
Finger Lakes Racetrack opened in 1962, and riders such as Angel Cordero, Pat Day, Julie Krone and Bill Shoemaker have raced here. Ross Morton called every race from opening day until his death in 2008. Tin Cup Chalice, the first winner of the Big Apple Triple, was based at the track and died in a training accident in 2009.
Off-track betting hurt the track that is now the Finger Lakes casino in the 1980s, and year-round simulcasting brought customers back in the 1990s. The $10.5 million renovation of 2004 added the video gaming floor that renamed the place Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack. Our history of racinos puts that 2004 wave of New York openings in national context.
The gaming floor at Finger Lakes casino
More than 1,100 video gaming machines fill 44,000 square feet; the state’s September 2026 report counted 1,125. They are lottery-based machines rather than casino slots, with results drawn from the New York Lottery’s central system. There are no dealer games or sportsbook. A smoking patio sits off the floor, and the machines run from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m.
Finger Lakes casino promotions run through Ember Rewards, the loyalty card shared with Hamburg Gaming. Members earn free play for points, and the club runs weekly offers such as the Wednesday Lucky Legends day and match-play vouchers for new members. The track reported more than $125 million in jackpot payouts in 2026 through the start of October.
Finger Lakes casino age limit
The age limit is 18 for the gaming floor, horse wagering and any restaurant on the gaming floor. This threshold is set by the state’s video lottery rules, not by the operator. Children are welcome only on live racing days, through the Lower Club entrance, and they cannot place bets or enter the gaming area at any time.
Buffet, grill and bars
The buffet is the centerpiece of dining here, an all-you-can-eat room that was remodeled in recent years, with a wide range of stations and selections. The Platinum Grille serves a full menu, Sevens Bar pours drinks on the floor, and The Wire and Tin Cup sell snacks and drinks near the racetrack.
Remedy Bar handles nightlife. On Thursday evenings it runs a night out from 5 to 9 p.m. with dinner, drinks, entertainment and discounts on wine and craft cocktails, and weekly live music runs through the year. Ember Rewards members can get a 15 percent food discount at the Platinum Grille and The Wire on Wednesdays.
Getting there and nearby racinos
Farmington sits in Ontario County, about a mile south of exit 44 on the New York State Thruway, which makes the drive from Rochester about half an hour and from Syracuse a little over an hour. Parking is free. For harness racing, Batavia Downs lies about an hour west, and Hamburg Gaming is beyond Buffalo.