Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack
Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71
Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack 5857 NY-96 Farmington, NY 14425
Year Opened: 1962
Rural Racing in New York
Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack in Farmington, New York is a minor horse racing track in upstate New York with small field sizes and not too many frills. There is a small casino attached to the track, and like at most horse tracks you can watch and bet from here on horse racing at other venues around the country, or bet on the live races that happen on site Monday through Wednesday during April through November. Post time is usually at 12:55 pm.
Food & Beverage 3
There is a full bar inside, as well as a concession stand which offers items such as pizza, hot dogs, salads, and sandwiches. The food is decent and the prices are comparable to what you will find at small sports venues anywhere. To give an idea of the prices here, slices of cheese pizza cost around $5, while jumbo hot dogs are around $8. Beer starts at $6, while non-alcoholic drinks cost $3 to $4.
Atmosphere 3
The seating at Fingers Lakes racetrack is fairly comfortable, with both bucket-style chairbacks and bleachers with backrests available trackside, while padded chairs and tables can be found inside. There are multiple TVs inside so you can watch the racing action, and the scenery outside is very pleasant, with lots of greenery and trees in the distance.
Unfortunately, it is a little hard to win much money here – a lot of the races only feature 4 horses, and the largest field sizes each day may only have 6, which doesn’t attract a lot of betting action. And with only 4 horses running in some races, that means the track doesn’t offer some of the exotics like trifectas and superfectas on those races. Nevertheless, Finger Lakes gives you a pleasant outing where you don’t have to fight any crowds and can just enjoy a peaceful day watching the ponies.
Neighborhood 2
Farmington, New York is a small town that is more of a pass through to other towns rather than a destination itself. There are a number of low-cost hotels in the area that cater to the patrons at Finger Lakes, but the attractions other than the gaming center around a historic Quaker church, antique stores, and local parks.
There are a couple of restaurants in the area which are worth checking out, but most notable for sports fans may be Eddie O'Briens Grille and Bar, which offers pub far and multiple TVs so you can watch basketball, football, and other games depending on what time of year you visit.
Fans 2
Given that this venue doesn’t have night or weekend racing, it shouldn’t surprise you that there is very little traffic here on the average race day. On the plus side there will be plenty of room to spread out, and you won’t have to wait in line for concessions. The small crowd sizes here may make you wonder how they can afford to stay in business, however.
Access 4
Finger Lakes Racetrack is located about 25 minutes from Rochester, New York, the closest major town, or slightly more than an hour from either Buffalo or Syracuse. Being off the beaten path it may take some time to get here, but once you do there is free parking right out front, and it is easy to move in and out – given its small size it won’t take more than 2 or 3 minutes from the time you park to the time you get to the track itself.
Return on Investment 3
I have mixed feelings about Finger Lakes Racetrack; on one hand I appreciated the low-key environment with its lack of crowds and no long lines to place bets. I also loved the rural setting, and I had a pleasant time just watching the races. However, I was bothered by the small field sizes and not being able to make more interesting wagers.
Programs here only cost $1.75, and there is no cost to get in the door – there rarely is for horse racing, since they make their money on the gambling. There is also no cost to park, so the only thing you really have to spend money on is food, and of course, wagering if you do any.
Extras 2
There is a little bit of horse-themed decor on the exterior, which I appreciated, and I did enjoy the different seating options.
Final Thoughts
I personally enjoy visiting different horse racing tracks around the country, and I am glad I went to Finger Lakes. But I am not sure I would go back here; I enjoyed doing it once, but there are other tracks nearby with more amenities and more interesting racing.
