Tioga Downs is set to embark on its eighth season of live racing from Nichols, New York on Saturday, May 4 (Kentucky Derby Day) with a first-race post time of 5:00 p.m.
A 10-race card will highlight the day and kick off the 61-day race season that continues through Saturday, September 14.
The 2013 schedule is covered with marquee stakes events throughout the summer totaling nearly $2 million and will feature some of the sport's most accomplished stars. One of the most exciting dates on the calendar is June 9, when Tioga will host the best older male and female pacers in the $200,000 (estimated) Artiscape Pace and $200,000 (estimated) Roll with Joe (formerly known as the Bettors Delight).
“The Roll with Joe and Artiscape always attract some of the sport's best to Tioga Downs, and we look forward to hosting these events every year and putting on a good show for our fans,” said VP of Racing and Simulcast, Jason Settlemoir.
Fans may also register each racing night for the third annual Million Dollar Ball Drop, another season-long promotion that could award one lucky winner with $1 million on Monday, September 2.
Other special promotions for the 2013 racing season include a race-date t-shirt and magnet giveaway (May 4), wall calendar giveaway (May 12), hat giveaway (May 27), Yannick Gingras colours replica t-shirt giveaway (June 9), Pilsner glass giveaway (June 16), harness racing colouring book (June 30), beanie horse toy giveaway (July 28), fleece pullover giveaway (August 11), and a Corey Callahan bobblehead giveaway (September 2).
On Monday, September 2, Tioga Downs will host the $400,000 (estimated) Cane Pace for the best three-year old male pacers in North America, along with its counterpart, the $110,000 (estimated) Shady Daisy for three-year old pacing fillies. Also sharing the spotlight on the card will be the return of the $50,000 Drivers’ Championship, which makes its way back home to Tioga Downs. A leg of the event will be held at Vernon Downs on Sunday, August 25, but the final round will be contested at Tioga Downs. First-race post time for the special matinee program is set for 1:30 p.m.
(Tioga Downs)