Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Tioga Downs Looking to Fill 80+ Positions!

March 15th, 2010
Tioga Downs Casino is looking to fill many positions throughout the facility as they prepare for the upcoming 2010 Harness Racing season, which, in turn, will help boost a sluggish local economy.
Tioga Downs will be taking applications immediately and will be holding 2 Job Fairs Saturday, March 20th from 8am – 1pm, and on Tuesday March 23rd from 11am – 7pm. Tioga Downs is looking to hire people to work in all areas of the operation.
These jobs range from part-time, full-time and seasonal employment. During the Job Fairs, Department Managers will conduct interviews, pre-employment testing and same-day hiring.
“Tioga Downs has shown significant growth over the past 4 years, and we are proud to be in a position to employ additional local workers who can continue to grow with us”, according to President and General Manager, Tom Osiecki.
Tioga Downs kicks off their fifth season of live harness racing on Saturday, May 1st with the 3rd Annual Derby Fest featuring an exciting line up of racing, live music, traditional mint juleps, and more.
Tioga Downs is open year-round with over 750 video gaming machines; simulcast horse racing, a buffet restaurant, food outlets, a sports bar and special live entertainment events. The property employs almost 200 people and is looking to hire an additional 80-plus employees for the racing season.
Tioga Downs is located at Route17, Exit 62, Nichols, NY.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Tioga to lower takeout rates

Thursday, March 11, 2010 - by Dustin Ross, regional racing operations manager, Tioga/Vernon Downs


Nichols, NY --- Tioga Downs, in its relatively short history, has consistently been on the cutting edge of adapting the racing model toward a more positive result. In a direct response to the vocal concerns of horseplayers, Tioga Downs will reduce its takeout rate across the board to the state minimum allowed by New York law for the 2010 racing season, pending regulatory approval of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.

By taking such an action, Tioga management is hopeful that a positive response, over due course, will result in increased handle on its live races and foster an industry trend toward more competitive pricing.

Payments for Tioga & Vernon Stakes Due March 15

Published: March 11, 2010 10:25 am ET

Tioga and Vernon Downs will offer over $4 million in stakes over the course of the 2010 racing season, and the time has come to secure eligibility for those lucrative races.

The $1 million Empire Breeders Classic for New York-sired three-year-olds will kick off the season for statebreds on Memorial Day weekend, offering $250,000 (est.) finals for all divisions. Due by March 15 are the three-year-old sustaining, two-year-old nomination, and stallion nomination payments.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Settlemoir named USHWA President

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - by Jerry Connors, secretary, USHWA

Harrisburg, PA -- Jason Settlemoir, adding another office of authority to his burgeoning collection of important harness racing positions, was named President of the United States Harness Writers Association during this past weekend's annual meeting of USHWA in Yonkers, N.Y.

Jason SettlemoirSettlemoir, vice president of racing and simulcasting for New York State tracks Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs and already a Vice President of Harness Tracks of America and a director of the U.S. Trotting Association, succeeds former president Debbie Little of the New York Post, who will now assume the position of Chair of the Board of the writers organization. Settlemoir was quick to praise his predecessor.

"Debbie Little devoted incredible amounts of time and energy to USHWA in order to make sure that it operated as best as it can, and accomplished many good things," Settlemoir noted. "Debbie and I have talked about the 'top spot' in our organization, and I'm sure her counsel will remain valuable as I step up to face the challenges of the USHWA presidency."

Veteran racing scribe and publicist Steve Wolf of Florida moves up a chair to first vice-president, while Chris Tully of Goshen Historic Track joins the Board as second vice-president. As mentioned, Little will become the Chair of the USHWA Board. Returning in familiar roles will be Alan Prince as Treasurer; Bill Brown as Executive Secretary; and Jerry Connors as Secretary.

The U.S. Harness Writers Association is a 200-plus member association devoted to the communication of the major developments of the sulky game. It elects members of the Hall of Fame and the various year-end awards, both human and equine; it is involved in charitable and educational enterprises; and it annually organizes the annual banquet which honors the best and brightest of the sport, with the dinner last Sunday at Yonkers honoring 2009's champions.