OTB New York

Updated February 9, 2023

OTB New York

This is where it all started: in the heart of America’s fourth-most populous yet busiest state of New York. OTB New York erupted thanks legalizing it in 1970 and despite the closures of NYC OTB, the state’s official off-track betting corporation, horse race betting remains steadfast in closer circles. There is plenty of horse racing action left in the Empire State.

Let’s cover the most significant OTB New York topics like:

Best OTB New York betting sites

OTB New York at Bet365

Odds

Bet365 has made a name for itself by living up to its name: it offers numerous off-track betting odds around the clock

Bonuses

Find the ever-available signup bonus from Bet365; this can reward you up to $200 in betting cash if you deposit an equivalent amount or more

Bet365 is a thoroughbred in the world of online sports betting and this includes the racebook. It continues to improve with its peerless live betting and live streaming combo combined with its competitive daily odds and signup promotions. Bet365 is always a contender.

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OTB New York at BetOnline

Odds

The racebook odds are solid and while they aren’t always the best, they are usually around what the market is at; there is plenty of them and includes exotic wagers

Bonuses

BetOnline has a wide selection of racebook promos including a horse racing rebate and a no-risk bonus (up to $25 refunded if you lose a bet) for first bets

One of the best racebooks for recreational players, BetOnline’s slew of promotions make it too sweet of a deal to pass on this book. They offer plenty of horse racing markets at market price odds. Whether a new player or a seasoned bettor, BetOnline’s racebook should be a top choice.

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OTB New York at Bovada

Odds

Bovada has been a mainstay in the industry thanks to always having betting odds at your disposal and this extends to their racebook

Bonuses

You not only get a signup bonus and a referral bonus, but you also get a rebate for most racebook bets you make. Also, you get a bigger bonus for depositing with Bitcoin.

Bovada’s combination of bonuses and promotions, bankable betting odds, and nice selection of futures and props makes it a one-size-fits-all selection for bettors. Newcomers could do worse than pick Bovada as their main book for off-track betting.

Read Bovada Review
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Is OTB New York legal?

Of course, OTB New York is legal. It began in 1970 when the New York State Legislature enacted the first off-track betting law. This gave rise to the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation (NYC OTB), which allowed municipalities across the state to create their own OTB operations.

The NYC OTB covered the five boroughs of New York City and was flourishing in the 1980’s. They came so close to becoming privatized, but the state legislature sat on the deal and mayor Michael Bloomberg eventually cancelled it.

This led to the eventual demise of the NYC OTB, which filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection in 2009 and dissolved all of its remaining 66 parlors.

However, regional OTB’s remain operational across the great state. Capital OTB manages 16 counties including Albany and Schenectady. Catskill OTB governs ten, which includes Catskills and the Southern Tier region. Nassau OTB covers Nassau County, Suffolk OTB covers Suffolk County, and Western OTB watches over the 15 counties of Western New York, which includes Buffalo and Rochester. 

These OTB corporations accept wagers at full-service branch locations or self-service terminals in restaurants, bars, or even through telephone and Internet. 

Alternatively, you can find plenty of horse racing action in online sportsbooks and racebooks.

OTB

OTB New York schedule

Horse racing happens for most of the year in New York but mainly during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. The obvious race of note in New York is the Belmont Stakes, which takes place every first or second Saturday of June in spring.

In August, there is the Whitney Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course. It has a top-tier rating by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) putting it in the same group as the Kentucky Derby. Later in the month is the Travers Stakes, also at Saratoga, which is considered one of the most significant non-Triple Crown races in the United States. Its $1.25 million prize is even larger than the Belmont Stakes’.

The Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, one of the premier events for three-year-old fillies happens from June to August beginning with Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park, the Coaching Club American Oaks and the Alabama Stakes, both at Saratoga.

There is also the “Big Apple Triple”, which consists of the Mike Lee Stakes in May, the New York Derby in July, and the Albany Stakes in August. The Mike Lee Stakes take place in Belmont Park, the New York Derby in Finger Lakes, and the Albany is at Saratoga.

In the Fall, you’ll want to pay attention to the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the main event to the fall meeting at the Belmont Park. It is to Fall what the Belmont Stakes is to spring and what the Travers Stakes is for summer in Saratoga.

New York horse racing tracks

As one of the forefathers of OTB New York, horse racing has a rich history in New York. Despite the sport being more niche now, its collection of racetracks are world-renowned. A good chunk of the most important horse races occur in the state led by the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park.

Belmont Park, the state’s most iconic track, is also one of its biggest. It contains three separate tracks within it: the dirt racecourse known as the “Main Track” at 1 ½ miles (12 furlongs) long, where the Belmont Stakes is ran, the “Widener Turf Course” at 1 5/16 miles (10.4 furlongs), and the “Inner Turf Course” at 1 3/16 (9.4 furlongs). It is just east of New York City.

The Saratoga Race Course is the next premier racetrack in New York. Like its New York Racing Associate (NYRA) sister tracks, it has three separate tracks: the main dirt track, an outer turf track, and the inner turf track. It hosts several major horse races like the Travers Stakes and the Saratoga meet, which lasts for 40 racing days and spans from mid-July through Labor Day in September. 

Finger Lakes Racetrack opened in 1962 as one of the state’s newer race courses. It features some innovative additions to its casino including the racino and is widely popular in the state. It hosts the New York Derby among significant horse races.

Other horse tracks of note are the Aqueduct Racetrack in the South Ozone Park in Queens and the Yonkers Raceway & Empire City Casino (formerly the Empire City Race Track) in Yonkers, New York, close to the New York City border.

Belmont Park

The iconic Belmont Park is New York’s most esteemed racetrack. Located just east of New York City, Belmont Park opened in 1905 and hosts the Belmont Stakes, the third and final leg of the Triple Crown. It is known as the “Test of the Champion” for how difficult it is even for Triple Crown favourites.

Belmont Park is sometimes referred to as the “Championship Track” due to how many major champions in racing have competed. It hosted a record 120,139 people in 2004, which was infamous for Smarty Jones failing in its Triple Crown bid.

The racetrack is also known as the “Big Sandy” due to how large it is at 1 ½ miles (12 furlongs). Other than the Belmont Stakes, the racetrack also hosts other notable races such as the Acorn Stakes, the first leg of the US Triple Tiara and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the main event of the fall meeting at the park.

Other notable races include major races on turf (grass) including the Belmont Derby, Belmont Oaks, and the Man O’ War Stakes.

Belmont Park was also home to early aviation shows and has been featured prominently in pop culture including movies like Mighty Aphrodite in 1995 and in television like a 1975 episode of The Odd Couple

Saratoga Race Course

Considered the oldest major sporting venue in the United States, the Saratoga Race Course opened in the summer of 1863. It is actually only the fourth-oldest racetrack. It holds a handful of premier horse races most notably the Travers Stakes, Whitney Handicap, the Coaching Club American Oaks, and the Alabama Stakes, all Grade-I races.

The Travers Stakes, more popularly known as the “Mid-Summer” Derby is the most prestigious race at Saratoga ranked only behind the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. It boasts a whopping $1.25 million purse and is notorious for seeing two Triple Crown winners: Gallant Fox in 1930 and American Pharaoh in 2015 lose in shocking upsets.

The Whitney Stakes has a $1.2 million purse and is graded the same as the Kentucky Derby. The Coaching Club American Oaks and the Alabama Stakes, are the second and third legs of the American Triple Tiara, respectively. 

Like its sister track, Belmont Park, Saratoga has three separate tracks. The biggest and most commonly used is the main dirt track at 1 1/8-mile (9 furlongs) long. The Mellon Turf Course is a 1-mile (8 furlongs) turf track, and the inner turf track is the smallest at 7 furlongs (about 0.875 miles).

Saratoga has been famous for a rich history of upsets. The legendary Man o’ War suffered his only defeat in 21 starts here, losing to Upset in the 1919 Sanford Stakes. Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year lost in the 2010 Personal Ensign Stakes. And three Triple Crown winners lost here including the aforementioned Gallant Fox and American Pharaoh and the one-and-only Secretariat in 1973. 

Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack

Finger Lakes Racetrack rounds out the “big three” racetracks in New York. Located in Farmington in Western New York (just a few miles from Rochester), the racetrack is just one mile south of the New York State Thruway.

Opening in 1962, Finger Lakes is home to extensive horse races but is mostly known for hosting the New York Derby, the second leg of the Big Apple Triple. It also hosts the Wadsworth Memorial Handicap every Fourth of July as well as the New York Breeders’ Futurity. It is left-handed and is 1 1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs) long.

The New York Derby has a purse of $150,000 and is raced between three-year-old New York-bred horses. Striders’ Ormsby holds the speed record at 1:42:85 in 2005 although Tin Cup Chalice stands as the only New York-bred horse to win this race along with the rest of the Big Apple Triple.

Finger Lakes became Tin Cup Chalice’s home until his tragic death during an accident just under a year after he won the Triple. The track has undergone several ownership changes but is currently owned by Delaware North.

The most recent addition to the track is the “racino”, a casino-style video gaming floor. After some financial hardship in the 1980s, Finger Lakes rebounded and has now been one of New York’s most popular racetracks.

OTB New York Locations

8315 Park Road

Batavia, NY  14020

Phone +1 716 343-1423

Fax: +1 716 343-6873

Arcade Hotel

266 Main Street

Arcade, NY, 14009

Phone: (585) 492-9909

Balloon’s Restaurant & Nightclub

20 Monroe Street

Ellicottville, NY, 14731

Phone: (716) 699-4162

Dakota Grill

913 Roosevelt Highway

Hilton, NY, 14468-9781

Phone: (585) 392-3737

DR’s Inn

1743 East Avenue

Rochester, NY, 14610

Phone: (585) 271-0820

Firehouse Saloon

814 South Clinton Avenue

Rochester, NY, 14620

Phone: (585) 319-3832

Gates Pub

24 Hinchey Road

Rochester, NY, 14624

Phone: (585) 235-0580

Harry’s Place

23 W. Main St.

Waterloo, NY, 13165

Phone: (315) 539-0809

Holland Willows

177 Savage Road

Holland, NY, 14080

Phone: (716) 537-9070

LB Grand

39 Main Street

Leroy, NY, 14482

Phone: (585) 768-4300

Lighthouse Lanes

295 East Albany Street

Oswego, NY, 13126

Phone: (315) 342-2695

Marina Restaurant & Bar

4768 Lake Avenue

Rochester, NY, 14612

Phone: (585) 663-5233

Matt’s News

93 East 3rd St.

Dunkirk, NY, 14048

Phone: (716) 366-4909

McKenzies Irish Pub

3685 West Henrietta Road

Rochester, NY, 14623

Phone: (585) 334-8970

Page’s Grill & Bar

4725 Transit Road

Depew, NY, 14043-4883

Phone: (716) 608-0172

Pastaria Pub

7281 West Main Street

Lima, NY, 14485

Phone: (585) 624-2080

Scrupules

2875 South Main Street

Newfane, NY, 14108

Phone: (716) 778-9113

Stick’s Sportsbar & Grill

3738 County Rte. 6

New Haven, NY, 13121

Phone: (315) 963-3084

Stroh’s Tavern

9566 Old Lake Shore Road

Angola, NY, 14006

Phone: (716) 549-0480

TC Hooligan’s

134 Greece Ridge Center Drive

Rochester, NY, 14626

Phone: (585) 225-7180

The Club House at Chili Country Club

760 Scottsville-Chili Road

Scottsville, NY, 14546

Phone: (585) 259-5707

Tucci’s Booze Burgers & Betting Parlor

1479 Lyell Avenue

Rochester, NY, 14606

Phone: (585) 254-7740

Wooden Nickel

18 Liberty Street

Bath, NY, 14810

Phone: (607) 776-6722

Suffolk Regional Off Track Betting Corporation

5 Davids Drive

Hauppauge, NY, 11787

Phone:+1 516 853-1000

Fax: +1 516 853-1080

Airport Branch

300 Knickerbocker Ave.

Bohemia, NY, 11716

Commack Branch

6243 Jericho Turnpike

Commack, NY, 11725

Shirley Branch

60 Northern Boulevard

Shirley, NY, 11967

Centereach Branch

1937 Middle Country Rd.

Centereach, NY, 11720

Route 110 Branch

1741A Broadhollow Road (Rte. 110)

East Farmingdale, NY, 11735

Sunrise Branch

1375 Sunrise Highway

Bay Shore, NY, 11706

The Racing Forum

690 Motor Parkway

Hauppauge, NY, 11788 

Playwright Irish Pub

27 West 35th Street

New York, NY, 10001

Phone: (212) 268-8868

Catskill Regional Off-track Betting Corporation

Park Place

Pomona , NY 10970

Phone: +1 914 362-0400

Fax: +1 914 362-0419

Birtchy’s Restaurant

567 Conklin Road

Binghamton NY 13903

Phone: (607) 217-4229

Delanceys Bar & Restaurant

106 Clowes Ave

Goshen, NY, 10924

Phone: (845) 294-8254

Elmira / Horseheads

4133 Route 17

Horseheads, NY, 14845

Phone: (607) 739-2525

Villa Roma Resort

356 Villa Roma Road

Callicoon, NY, 12723

Phone: (877) 256-7505

Fred’s Inn

5149 New York 12 

Norwich, NY, 13815

Phone: (607) 334-9282

Georgie O’s

787 Violet Avenue 

Hyde Park, NY, 12538

Phone: (845) 229-9996

Hi-Tor Lanes

40 South Route 9W

West Haverstraw, NY, 10993

(845) 429-8000

Sal’s Place

99 Vineyard Avenue

Highland, NY, 12528

Phone: (845) 691-2811

Nassau Regional Off Track Betting Corporation

220 Fulton Avenue

Hempstead, NY, 11550

Phone: +1 516 572-2800

Fax: +1 516 572-2840

Franklin Square

1063 Hempstead Turnpike

Franklin Square NY, 11010

Freeport

131 W. Sunrise Highway

Freeport, NY, 11520

Trinity Restaurant

190 Jericho Turnpike

Garden City Park, NY 11o01

Phone: (519) 358-5584

Green Acres

1065 Green Acres Mall

Valley Stream, NY, 11580

Levittown

2680 Hempstead Turnpike

Levittown, NY 11756

Oceanside

3450 Lawson Boulevard

Oceanside, NY, 11572

Potter’s Pub

2045 Hempstead Turnpike

East Meadow, NY, 11554

Phone: (516) 794-6698

Race Palace

1600 Round Swamp Road

Plainview NY, 11803

Phone: (516) 572-8200

The Barefoot Peddler

37 Glen Cove Road    

Greenvale, NY, 11548

Phone: (516) 621-4840

B.K. Sweeney’s Parkside Tavern

356 Broadway

Bethpage, NY, 11714

Phone: (516) 935-9597

B.K. Sweeney’s Uptown Grille

636 Franklin Avenue

Garden City, NY, 11530

Phone: (516)-746-3075

Charlie Meaney’s

52 Central Ct

Valley Stream, NY, 11580

Phone: (516) 596-2337

Churchill’s Restaurant and Bar

18 South Park Ave

Rockville Center, NY, 11570

Phone: (516) 766-2500

Edison’s Ale House

550 Plandome Road

Manhasset, NY, 11030

Phone: (516) 627-7722

J Paul’s Terrace Cafe

239 Merrick Road    

Oceanside, NY, 11572

Phone: (516) 536-1806

Pool House Billiards & Sports Cafe

2732 Grand Ave    

Bellmore, NY, 11710

Phone: (516) 409- 9728

Runyon’s Restaurant

3928 Merrick Road    

Seaford, NY, 11783

Phone: (516) 221-2112