Tioga Downs has announced that one of the top young announcers in harness racing will become the track’s full-time race caller beginning with the 2014 racing season.

James Witherite, a 27-year-old native of Pennsylvania, has spent the past seven years as the track announcer at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack. Witherite has also called races at more than 60 harness and thoroughbred tracks throughout North America.

“I have always been impressed with every aspect of the racing product at Tioga,” said Witherite, who has had the opportunity over the past few years to call a couple of race cards each season at Tioga Downs. “While I’ve enjoyed a great seven years at Philadelphia and called some remarkable miles there, I’m looking forward to this new endeavor.”

In addition to announcing the races, Witherite will provide his race analysis and commentary in the racing program and on the Tioga Downs website. He will also conduct fan education seminars, meet-and-greets with on-track visitors and even play live music. Witherite is an accomplished multi-instrumental musician and composer.

“We’ve always had a rotating cast of announcers during our race meet, but when it became apparent that James was available, we jumped at the opportunity to get not only one of the premier race callers in our sport, but also a talented and passionate promoter of all aspects of the industry,” said Jason Settlemoir, the track’s vice president of Racing.

“We have great racing here at Tioga and James will only enhance that product,” said Jason Bluhm, the track’s senior director of Racing. “We plan on creating a pre-race show among other enhancements to our live product and James will be an important part of that. I feel privileged to have him join the team.”

Witherite will begin his new role this winter working as a fan education ambassador at Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Tioga’s sister property located in East Rutherford, New Jersey. He will then relocate to Tioga Downs when its racing season begins.

The ninth season of live racing at Tioga Downs is scheduled to begin on Kentucky Derby Day, May 3, 2014 (pending regulatory approval).

(Tioga)