Final preparations are in place for the 2015 live harness racing season at Tioga Downs, as the Southern Tier racetrack is due to commence its tenth Standardbred meet this Saturday, May 2.

Entries for the first weekend of live racing are due from horsepeople on Wednesday, April 29.

"We're looking forward to another great year at Tioga Downs," said Jason Settlemoir, the vice president of racing at Tioga Downs. "We're grateful for the great product our horsemen continue to put on the track and for our loyal fans, both on and off-track. We're excited to welcome everyone back as we bring harness racing to the Southern Tier for our tenth season."

The traditional Kentucky Derby Day opener features a special 5 p.m. post time, with a T-shirt and schedule magnet giveaway on the tarmac leading up to the races. Fans can also take part in a Derby hat contest ($300 top prize), and can enter a drawing to win a $1,000 wager on one horse in the Kentucky Derby.

The Williams Auto Group once again sponsors the season-long Horseplay Car Giveaway, where fans can earn entries all season for the chance to drive home in a new 2015 Toyota Corolla on closing night, Saturday, September 12.

Top pacers headline a blockbuster August 23 program, with the Roll With Joe (free-for-all) and Empire Breeders Classic (New York-sired three-year-olds) sharing top billing. Tioga also hosts the Tompkins-Geers stakes, with divisions for two and three-year-olds of each gait and sex scheduled for the two Sundays prior. The Tioga Downs stakes schedule also includes a preliminary division of the Graduate Series for four-year-olds, along with preliminary legs of the Kindergarten Classic for two-year-old trotters and the Miss Versatility for trotting mares. A full complement of New York Sire Stakes events also takes place throughout the 61-day meet.

While opening night carries a special 5 p.m. first post, Friday and Saturday evening programs (barring the occasional exception) throughout the season will commence at 6:15 p.m. Sunday afternoon racing action kicks off at 1:30 p.m. For a complete schedule, visit tiogadowns.com/racing.

(Tioga Downs)