Tioga Downs concluded its third year of live racing from Nichols, New York on Sunday, September 21st.
As in years past, fans and families lined up to watch New York’s only five-eighth’s mile track to compete on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday basis.
The 2008 Driver of the Year award went to Howard Parker, who spent his second straight season at Tioga Downs this summer. He posted 78 wins on the 59 day schedule and represented Tioga Downs in its second annual $40,000 Driver’s Championship on July 27th with a third place finish.
The 2008 Trainer of the Year award went to Jim Perry, who set a new record for wins with 34, breaking Jamie Sullivan’s 2007 mark. One of his main competitors out of his barn was Winbak Dimensions, who was Co-Horse of the Year in 2008 and posted eight wins at Tioga Downs. He won six Open paces with Jimmy Marohn Jr. in the bike for owners William and Jack Heinz of Ohio.
Biggest Big Bertha was also Co-Horse of the Year and equaled the 1:52.1 track record for aged mare pacers set by Alexi Killean in 2007. She made it to the winner’s circle on six occasions at Tioga Downs, including one against the boys in the Winner’s Over pace. She was conditioned by Patty Harris for owner Marilee Keene of California.
For the year of 2008, the record books saw 13 records come and go.
“The employees and horsemen at Tioga Downs are great to work with and make everything we do a great success. The Southern Tier Harness Horsemen’s Association is always willing to sit down and go over ideas and promotions with us to help put people in the grandstands here. The marketing team is always coming up with new and exciting ways to promote the sport in the area and has made a huge impact on our attendance figures,” said Jason Settlemoir, VP of Racing and Simulcast.
Tioga Downs would like to thank all of its Farm sponsors for their help during the 2008 race meet along with all of its sponsors for the Second Annual Driver’s Championship.
(Tioga)