Tioga Downs will end its successful season on Saturday, Sept. 23 featuring a match race to decide the track's Pacer of the Year.

On closing night, Tioga Downs officials will present the track's yearly awards. Mike Merton is the top driver, Rob Harmon is top trainer and Knight Angel is the Trotter of the Year. That leaves the Pacer of the Year award undecided.

Track management has narrowed it down to two horses. In baseball, when a game is tied, extra innings are played. In football, they go to overtime. In horse racing, they have a match race.

In one corner there is Talk Show Chica, a six-year-old mare by Heston Blue Chip. She is owned and driven by Corey Braden while trained by Stacey McLenaghan. In nine starts this season at Tioga, she has seven wins and a second-place finish. She has earned nearly $30,000 in purses this year. She had her seven-race win streak snapped last Friday and had to settle for second.

In the other corner is P L Princess C, a four-year-old mare by Thinking Out Loud.  She is owned by Charlene Long and driver Jeff Long while trained by Paul Long. In 13 starts this season at Tioga, she has seven wins, three seconds and a third. She has accumulated $43,010 in purses this year.

So, it’s down to one race, one mile, as they go mano-a-mano for a purse of $10,000 with the winner named Pacer of the Year! The non-betting match race will be held after race one.

Tioga Downs will be giving away a 2023 Toyota Camry LE as a part of its Horseplay Car Giveaway promotion that is sponsored by the Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program. So far, Tioga Downs has raised $4,973 through this promotion with all the money going to local charities. Tioga Downs matches the total amount raised for the season and makes an additional donation to the Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program. 

Saturday’s races will start at a special post time of 5:15 p.m. The 13-race card will be followed by season-ending fireworks spectacular. 

(With files from Tioga Downs)