When Vernon Downs’ 2019 season of live racing comes to a close on Nov. 2, Samantha Winiavski will have completed her first year as regional marketing manager of racing for both Vernon and Tioga Downs.

The 24-year-old graduate of Mansfield University first started as a promotions attendant at Tioga Downs in the spring of 2018.

“When I started out as a promotions attendant I knew nothing about harness racing, but I was willing to take on this learning curve,” said Winiavski. “When this opportunity came up last November I just couldn’t pass it up.”

Winiavski reports directly to Jason Settlemoir, who sits on the American Racing and Entertainment (Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs) Board of Directors and has overseen racing at the New York properties since January of 2006 as the regional vice president of racing and COO and general manager of the Meadowlands Racetrack. “ I am so proud of Sam, she has handled everything I have thrown at her and ran with it,” Settlemoir said. “She continues to impress with her professionalism and her ability to learn quickly.”

Winiavski is in charge of marketing and live race promotions. She would like to thank Settlemoir, Jeff Gural, chairman of American Racing and Entertainment and former director of racing Jason Bluhm. “I was fresh out of college when I first started working for this company,” she said. “For them to have faith in me at such a young age really means the world to me.”

Winiavski is originally from Lindenhurst, Long Island but now resides in Troy, Pa. She spends most of her days at Tioga Downs but does frequent Vernon Downs as well.

(Tioga/Vernon)