by James Witherite, Tioga
Downs racing media
Nichols, NY -- Final
preparations are in place for the 2015 live harness racing season at Tioga
Downs, as the Southern Tier racetrack is due to commence its tenth Standardbred
meet this Saturday, May 2. Entries for the first weekend's races are due
from horsemen on Wednesday, April 29.
"We're looking forward to
another great year at Tioga Downs," said Jason M. Settlemoir, Vice
President of Racing at Tioga Downs. "We're grateful for the great
product our horsemen continue to put on the track and for our loyal fans, both
on- and off-track. We're excited to welcome everyone back as we bring
harness racing to the Southern Tier for our tenth season."
The traditional Kentucky Derby
Day opener features a special 5:00 p.m. post time, with a T-shirt and schedule
magnet giveaway on the tarmac leading up to the races. Fans can also take
part in a Derby hat contest ($300 top prize), and can enter a drawing to win a
$1,000 wager on one horse in the Kentucky Derby.
The Williams Auto Group once
again sponsors the season-long Horseplay Car Giveaway, where fans can earn
entries all season for the chance to drive home in a new 2015 Toyota Corolla on
closing night, Saturday, September 12.
Top pacers headline a
blockbuster August 23 program, with the Roll With Joe (free-for-all) and Empire
Breeders Classic (New York-sired three-year-olds) sharing top billing.
Tioga also hosts the Tompkins-Geers stakes, with divisions for two- and three-year-olds
of each gait and sex scheduled for the two Sundays prior. The Tioga Downs
stakes schedule also includes a preliminary division of the Graduate series for
four-year-olds, along with preliminary legs of the Kindergarten Classic for
two-year-old trotters and the Miss Versatility for trotting mares. A full
complement of New York Sire Stakes events also takes place throughout the
61-day meet.
While opening night carries a
special 5:00 p.m. first post, Friday and Saturday evening programs (barring the
occasional exception) throughout the season will commence at 6:15 p.m.
Sunday afternoon racing action kicks off at 1:30 p.m. For a complete
schedule, visit tiogadowns.com/racing.
