While most of the industry is going Back to the Track, the Harness Horse Youth Foundation has gone "Back to the Library," with a series of programs at libraries in the Tioga Downs market area.

Earlier this week, HHYF was at libraries in Waverly, Spencer, Watkins Glen and Marathon, with nearly 200 children of all ages learning about harness racing, horse care, equipment and meeting one of the Foundation's Trottingbreds in person. Friday afternoon, HHYF will be at the Van Etten library, before taking part in Back to the Track festivities at Tioga Downs.

"Nearly all of these people are absolute newcomers to harness racing," said HHYF Executive Director Ellen Taylor, who along with summer intern Ben Hollingsworth, has been presenting the programs tied in to the New York summer reading theme of Dream Big. "We hope many of the children will attend HHYF summer camps in the future. Attendance has built throughout the week."

Friday at Tioga Downs, HHYF Trottingbred (and Facebook diva) Sweet Karen will be leading the first four post parades. She will also be making appearances in the grandstand both nights before the interactive educational program moves to Pocono Downs for a five-day overnight camp next week.

The Harness Horse Youth Foundation is a charitable 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing young people and their families educational opportunities with harness horses, in order to foster the next generation of participants and fans. The Foundation has been making a difference in young people's lives since 1976, and its programs include interactive learning experiences with these versatile animals, scholarship programs, and creation and distribution of educational materials.

For more information on opportunities through HHYF, or to support its mission, go to www.hhyf.org.

For more information on this release, contact Keith Gisser, keith2hhyf.org, or 216-374-1392.

(HHYF)