While American Pharoah’s quest to be Thoroughbred racing’s first Triple Crown winner in 37 years is sure to attract plenty of attention on Saturday, Tioga Downs offers special events on-track all weekend.

Friday evening’s live program features the third round of the “Spain vs. America” amateur driving competition, with four reinsmen from Palma di Mallorca squaring off against a quartet of American amateurs.

Veteran amateur drivers Alan Schwartz, Gerry Fielding, Bernie Boland, and Sam Sbarra represent the United States in the evening’s first two races, while Jaume BASSA Riera (2001 European Apprentices Championship participant), Agustin MASCARO Pou (2006 Spanish amateur driving champion), Miquel VICH Capo (three-time Spanish amateur driving champion), and Bernardo JAUME Cirer.

Post time for the eight-race Friday card is 6:15 p.m., with fans able to enter a month-long drawing for an all-expense paid trip to the Hambletonian, held in August at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Saturday evening’s nine-race card will begin at 7:05 p.m., just after the simulcast of the Belmont Stakes from Belmont Park. Racing fans can enter for the chance to win one of 10 $100 gasoline gift cards throughout the evening’s races.

Sunday’s 11-race program begins at 1:30 p.m., and features the annual Tioga Downs Scholarship Race, made possible by the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State and the Southern Tier Harness Horsemen’s Association.

Five local high school seniors have teamed up with Tioga Downs trainers over the past few weeks, working side-by-side with them in the mornings to learn the basics of horsemanship, racing strategy, and safety. Participating in the race are:

- Adam Layman (Tioga Central HS, to attend SUNY Broome for Engineering)
- Rachel Nelson (Vestal HS, to attend Morrisville State College for Equine Science)
- Kaylee Pandish (Binghamton HS, to attend SUNY Delhi for Veterinary Science)
- Kyle Pryor (Owego Free Academy, to attend SUNY Broome for Business and Marketing)
- Kate Reasons (Horseheads HS, to attend University of Rochester for Biology, Neuroscience, and Chemistry)

The five students will race in two-seat jog carts alongside the professional horsemen with whom they have worked over the past weeks. Corey Braden, Edgar “Sparky” Clarke, John Cummings, Jr., Jason MacDougall, and Richard Simard will accompany the seniors for the non-wagering 5/8-mile dash. In all, $9,700 in scholarships will be awarded to the five seniors, with first place good for $3,200.

For more information on racing, gaming, and entertainment at Tioga Downs, visit www.tiogadowns.com.

(Tioga Downs)