Tuesday, April 30, 2013

TIOGA DOWNS AND VERNON DOWNS STAKES SEE INCREASES IN NOMINATIONS



A Who's Who of Harness Racing's Elite Expected to Compete in 2013

Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs report increases in the number of horses made eligible to most of its stakes races after the April 15 sustaining payments.

Vernon's premier aged trotting stakes, the Credit Winner Open Trot and the Muscle Hill Aged Mare Trot, saw slight increases with 33 and 29 nominations respectively.

The Credit Winner eligibles are highlighted by defending champion Hot Shot Blue Chip plus a host of top four-year-olds including Hambletonian winner Market Share, Breeders' Crown winner Intimidate, and the Jimmy Takter-trained duo of Guccio and Little Brown Fox.

The Credit Winner and Muscle Hill will each be raced on September 6 at Vernon Downs.

Tioga's top aged pacing events, the Roll With Joe (formerly the Bettor's Delight) and the Artiscape saw numbers nearly equal to last year with 28 males in the Roll With Joe and 19 mares in the Artiscape.

The Roll With Joe features all of the aged pacing divisions superstars entering 2013 including Foiled Again, Golden Receiver and Bettor Sweet, plus an all-star cast of four-year-olds led by Sweet Lou, Heston Blue Chip, Bolt The Duer and Pet Rock.

The Roll With Joe and Artiscape kick off Tioga's open stakes season on Sunday, June 9.

"We're very pleased with the horsemen's continued support of our stakes program,” said Jason Bluhm, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs Regional Director of Racing. "I think I speak for all of the fans when I say I'm really looking forward to seeing how the group of four-year-olds stacks up against the aged horses."

"The past two Horses of the Year, San Pail and Chapter Seven, have each raced in the Credit Winner and we're hoping to once again showcase the sport's premier trotters to our fans and horseplayers again,” said Scott Warren, Vernon Downs Director of Racing.

The Kindergarten Classic for two-year-old trotters saw a six percent increase in nominations with more than 340 colts and fillies paid into the event. The list of eligibles includes 39 freshmen from the much anticipated first crop of world champion Muscle Hill. The Kindergarten Classic begins August 2 at the Meadowlands with the $200,000e final on October 25 at Vernon Downs.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Tioga Downs Reminds Horsemen of 4 Day Box



Tioga Downs would like to remind all horsemen that we have switched to a four-day box for the 2013 racing season.

Entries for opening day (Saturday, May 4) are due into the Tioga Downs race office (607.699.7688) by 9:00AM on Tuesday, April 30.

Tioga Downs' opening day will carry a special post time of 5:00PM.

We will race 3 races and then take a 1 hour break for the Kentucky Derby and resume racing at 7:00PM.

For more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com or call the Tioga Downs race office at 607.699.7688.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Tioga Downs Gears Up for 2013 Race Season


Tioga Downs is set for opening day of its 2013 race season on Saturday, May 4 (Kentucky Derby Day) with a post time of 5:00 pm.

A few of the Tioga Downs opening day traditions will continue with a visit from the Buffalo Jills, Derby Day Hat Contest, race date t-shirt and magnet giveaways, horseplay car giveaway, and much more.

Tioga held its first qualifying races of the year this past Friday (April 19) with four qualifying events going to the gate.

Another set of qualifiers will be held on Friday, April 26 with entries due in to the Tioga Downs Race Office (607.699.7688) by 10:00AM on Thursday morning (April 25).

A final set of qualifiers will be held on "Press Night" on Tuesday, April 30th with qualifiers beginning at 6:50PM.

Entries to the "Press Night" qualifiers are due into the race office by 10:00AM on Monday morning (April 29).

Tioga would like to remind all horsemen that we have switched to a four-day box for the 2013 racing season.

Entries for opening day (Saturday, May 4) are due into the Tioga Downs race office (607.699.7688) by 9:00AM on Tuesday, April 30.  

For more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com or call the Tioga Downs race office at 607.699.7688.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Tioga Downs to hold first qualifiers of the year, switching to four day box

Tioga Downs is gearing up for its eighth season of live racing action from Nichols, NY, and will prepare by holding qualifiers on April 19th at 11:00 AM.

The season kicks off on Saturday, May 4 (Kentucky Derby Day) with a post time for live racing of 5:00 PM. 

Tioga will host three of its live races before taking a break for the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs, and will then continue with the remainder of its racing program immediately following.

Tioga Downs would like to remind all of its horsemen that we will be switching to a four day box this year. 

The draw for Saturday, May 4 will take place on Tuesday, April 30th with entries due in to the Tioga Downs race office by 9:00 AM.

Qualifiers at Tioga Downs will also be offered on Friday, April 26 at11:00 AM, and on Tuesday, April 30 at 6:50 PM for its annual "Press Night" with all of the local media.

For more information on Tioga Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com or call the Tioga Downs race office at 607.699.7688.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Reminder: Sustaining Payments for Tioga and Vernon Stakes Races Due April 15


The sustaining payments for the 2013 Kindergarten Trotting Classic, Artiscape, Credit Winner, Miss Versatility, Muscle Hill and Roll With Joe (formerly known as the Bettor's Delight) are due by April 15. Visit the Tioga Downs website or call 607-699-7688 for further information.