Well, I grew up near the Racetrack, seems long ago. Once upon a time the Yonkers raceway was a booming place. People would come from all around, the stands were full, cars lined up to get in. Some time in the 1970s NYC started Off Track Betting, that and New Jersey opened the Meadowlands track, the YR had pretty much died. Any how I can recall the Raceway Police carrying side arms. I would imagine that they were much like the casino security is in the big casinos are. There must have been lots of money in the building at the time. The NYC connection must come from that the YR is exactly 1 mile north of NYC. Its so close that at one time the rumors were that they were going to extend the subway (above ground el) from the Bronx to the Raceway...

So, the Yonkers Raceway wasnt always a dump. Today its some slot machine parlor. I dont know if they even have horse races anymore?


EDIT
I reread this post, I feel that I come off harsh in the way I wrote it. Wasn't my intent to be corrective or mean. I just wanted to tell a story, and it didnt seem to come out right.