Monticello Raceway: year-round harness racing, and what happened to the Monticello casino

What happened to the Monticello casino?

If you’re searching for “Monticello casino,” here’s the short answer: it’s gone. Monticello Raceway ran video lottery terminals for years as Monticello Casino & Raceway. On April 23, 2019, owner Empire Resorts shut the gaming floor and moved all of its gaming to Resorts World Catskills, the full commercial casino it had opened in February 2018.

Resorts World Catskills is in the Town of Thompson, a few miles from the track. It’s a licensed commercial casino with live dealer tables, slots, hotels and, like New York’s other commercial casinos, a retail sportsbook. Full details are in our Resorts World Catskills guide.

The raceway itself kept its racing license and its betting windows.

Year-round daytime racing at the Mighty M

Monticello Raceway opened on June 27, 1958, to bring visitors to the Sullivan County resort area. It races on a half-mile oval and goes by the nickname “the Mighty M.”

Monticello is a weekday matinee track. It has historically raced year-round in the afternoons, Monday through Thursday, adding some Fridays when a Monday is a holiday. The track was still posting daily racing recaps in mid-October 2026. Check the 2026 calendar and entries on the track’s site before you go, since the weekly pattern can change.

Monticello has also hosted New York Sire Stakes and county fair finals for New York-bred 2- and 3-year-olds.

The 2020 shutdown: when Monticello stopped racing

Monticello’s racing has been tested before. During the 2020 pandemic, the state allowed tracks to resume on June 1, but Monticello stayed dark. The Monticello Harness Horsemen’s Association, with more than 500 members, took Empire Resorts to court, sought arbitration and said about $3 million in purses had gone unraced.

The two sides reached an agreement in principle, and live racing returned in September 2020 after roughly six months off, according to the Sullivan County Democrat.

OTB and simulcast: how you bet on site now

Without the slots, betting at Monticello is pari-mutuel only. The track runs a small off-track betting area in part of the old racino and grandstand, with simulcast schedules posted monthly. The raceway’s signal goes out to simulcast outlets, and its races stream through the Racetrack Television Network (RTN) by subscription.

There’s no sportsbook at the raceway. For sports betting in Sullivan County, use Resorts World Catskills or a licensed NY sportsbook app.

Monticello is 85 miles from NYC: directions

Monticello is about 85 miles northwest of New York City. The track’s directions:

• From New York City: I-87 north to Exit 16 (Harriman), then Route 17 west to Exit 104
• From Binghamton: Route 17 east to Exit 104
• From Albany: I-87 south to Exit 19 (Kingston), then Route 209 south to Route 17

Phone: (845) 794-4100.

ADW apps that carry the Monticello signal

You can bet Monticello from home through a licensed ADW app. TVG, TwinSpires, DK Horse, Xpressbet and AmWager all take New York customers, according to the NY State Gaming Commission. Harness coverage varies by app, so check that Monticello is on the menu. Our online horse betting guide compares the legal options.

Monticello Raceway FAQ