Tioga Downs will open for live harness racing this year on Saturday, May 3.
This year’s season provides a total of 61 live race dates and plenty of promotions, including Bulldog, Basset Hound and Wiener Dog races, comedy night, giveaways, animal exhibits and contests.
Opening Day will feature live harness races, with first post at 5 p.m. Racing starved patrons can enjoy watching the biggest day in Thoroughbred racing, Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs, coupled with the return of the live horse races for the first time since last fall.
Guests should arrive early to participate in the Derby Hat Contest, get a free magnet calendar and t-shirt, and enter to win a $500 USD Derby Dream Bet. Racing fans can watch and wager on the 151st Kentucky Derby, which will be simulcast throughout the facility and the videoboard in the infield. The “Derby break” will come after the fourth race, from approximately 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Eight New York Sire Stakes cards will take place this season at Tioga Downs, featuring many of the sport's top drivers and horses, along with the $500,000 USD Empire Breeders Classic finals for three-year-old colt and filly pacers on Sunday, Aug. 24.
Tioga Downs is set to host various reoccurring weekly promotional events. “Bingo and Beer Night” will take place every Friday featuring harness racing bingo and $2 USD draft beers. Sunday “Family Day” Specials will feature food specials and free bounce houses, water slides, farm tours, face painting, starting gate rides and more.
Tioga Downs will also offer fireworks nights, a Hambletonian Trip giveaway, “corntastic weekend,” and great food specials throughout the season.
For more information about the 2025 racing season and promotions, visit tiogadowns.com.
(With files from Tioga Downs)