The fourth annual Dick McGuire Trot, remembering the Knicks great and basketball Hall of Famer, is on tap for Monday night, July 1 at Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway.
The New York Sire Stakes for three-year-old colts and geldings is worth an estimated $250,000, and pays tribute to the ardent $2 horse player who starred at St. John’s and then at the Garden as one of the game’s greatest playmakers.
Members of the McGuire family expected to be on hand include wife Teri, sons Richard, Scott and Michael, numerous grand children and a slew of old friends.
Raceway president Timothy J. Rooney and COO Bob Galterio put their stamp of approval on the McGuire Trot for its inaugural rendition in 2010 after McGuire’s passing, and it has become a fixture on the stakes schedule for New York-breds.
McGuire was a regular at harness and thoroughbred tracks across the country, wherever his Knicks scouting missions would take him.
According to his wife Teri “Dick said he ‘broke even’ every time he returned home from a night at the races.”
Said Rooney: We are truly delighted and privileged to honor one of New York’s greatest sportsmen, and an avid racing fan, with the fourth annual Dick McGuire Trot. Yonkers Raceway looks forward to hosting the event for many years to come, and to having his family, friends and many fans at our historic track during the height of our summer stakes season.”
Born in the Bronx, a product of the Rockaways, and a long time Dix Hills, Long Island resident, McGuire was a part of the Knicks organization for 53 seasons as a player, coach and scout before his passing on February 3 at age 84. The St. John’s University star was one of the most selfless players in NBA history. The deft-passing McGuire was a five-time NBA All-Star and led the Knicks to three straight NBA Finals in the fifties. His number 15 was retired to the Madison Square Garden rafters in 1992, and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame the following year. McGuire’s legend, along with his historic NBA career, includes his love of horse racing, spending memorable times at racetracks across the country during his travels as a player, coach and scout, including Yonkers Raceway.