Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs recently held its first editions of the family day 'Breakfast With The Pros' on Saturday, July 25th at Tioga, and on Saturday, August 1st at Vernon
.
At Tioga more than thirty fans came to get questions answered by leading driver Jimmy Marohn Jr. and Guy Howard, who is one of Tioga’s trainers and also the President of the STHHA. Jason Settlemoir, VP of Racing & Simulcast, was also on the panel for questions regarding betting and events held at the track. The Breakfast buffet was served at 10 a.m. with the panel going on immediately following breakfast for approximately 35 minutes. At 11 a.m. the fans were taken to the grandstand to watch the qualifying races while track management and Guy Howard stayed close by to answer any questions the fans had.
Following qualifiers fans were loaded into the Tioga Bus and taken to leading trainer Mike Deters’ barn, where they given the opportunity to feed and pet some of the horses. Mike Deters then brought a horse out and harnessed him up, showing the fans all the equipment each piece at a time so they had a better understanding of what they were watching.
Finally fans were taken back to the main building where all the children’s names were put into a raffle, all the boys in one and all the girls in the other for a brand new mountain bike. There were eleven children for the tour, and one boy and one girl each went home with a new bike courtesy of Tioga Downs.
At Vernon Downs the same format was done, but sitting on their panel in front of more than fifty people was Jimmy Whittemore, trainer and President of the HHA of CNY Rick Papa, and once again Jason Settlemoir.
The next “Breakfast With The Pros” is scheduled for Saturday, August 22nd at 10 a.m. at Tioga Downs, with Vernon Downs hosting theirs on Saturday, August 29th at 10 a.m.
(Tioga Downs)