Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs have finalized their 2012 race and stakes schedule for the upcoming race season (pending regulatory approval).
Tioga Downs will hold 61 live racing days in 2012, set to begin on Saturday, May 5 (Kentucky Derby Day). Highlighting the 2012 stakes calendar at Tioga Downs are the $200,000 (est.) Artiscape for open mare pacers and the $200,000 (est.) Bettor’s Delight Open Pace, both scheduled for Sunday, June 10.
Tioga Downs will once again host the first leg of pacing’s Triple Crown, the Cane Pace, with eliminations on Sunday, Aug. 26, with the final on Monday, Sept. 3. The Empire Breeder’s Classic for 3-year-old New York-bred pacers will be held later in the year as in years past, with eliminations on Sunday, Aug. 5, and the $250,000 (est.) finals being held a week later on Sunday, Aug. 12. Other marquee events held at Tioga Downs in 2012 will include: Tompkins-Geers, a leg of the Miss Versatility, the Shady Daisy, and the Historic Stakes.
Vernon Downs will kick off its 2012 race season on Friday, April 27, to open up its 90-day race meet through Nov. 3. Vernon Downs will be the 2012 host of American Racing and Entertainment’s marquee event, the $50,000 Drivers’ Championship, which has been held at Tioga Downs since it conception in 2007.
The Drivers’ Championship will share the spotlight at Vernon Downs with the $700,000 (est.) Zweig Memorial Trot on Sunday, Aug. 26. The $200,000 (est.) Muscle Hill Open Mares Trot and the $200,000 (est.) Credit Winner Open Trot will also return to Vernon Downs in 2012 on Friday, Sept. 7.
The $500,000 (est.) Empire Breeder’s Classic for New York-bred trotters will headline the month of June at Vernon Downs, with the eliminations on Friday, June 1, and the $250,000 (est.) finals a week later on Friday, June 8. Also scattered around the 2012 stakes schedule at Vernon Downs will be the Historic Stakes, along with legs and the final of the $175,000 Kindergarten Classic.
“We pride ourselves at Tioga and Vernon on the racing product and promotions we offer our fans during the summer months in upstate New York, and look forward to what we hope will be the best year yet for Tioga and Vernon Downs,” said Jason M. Settlemoir, VP of racing and simulcast.
