Tioga Downs will hold 61 live racing days in 2012, set to begin on Saturday (May 5-Kentucky Derby Day) in Nichols, N.Y.
Highlighting the 2012 stakes calendar at Tioga Downs is the $200,000 (est.)Artiscape pace for open mare pacers and the $200,000 (est.) Bettor's Delightopen pace, both scheduled for Sunday (June 10).
Tioga Downs will once again host the first leg of pacing’s Triple Crown, the Cane Pace, with eliminations on Sunday (August 26), with the final on Monday (September 3).
The Empire Breeders Classic for 3-year-old New York bred pacers will be held later in the year then in years' past, with eliminations on Sunday (August 5) and the $250,000 (est.) finals being held a week later on Sunday (August 12).
Other marquee events held at Tioga Downs in 2012 will include Tompkins-Geers Grand Circuit, a leg of the Miss Versatility, the Shady Daisy and the Historic Stakes.
Vernon Downs will kick off its 2012 race season on Friday (April 27) to open up its 90-day race meet through Nov. 3.
Vernon will be the 2012 host of American Racing and Entertainment’s marquee event, the $50,000 Drivers’ Championship, which has been held at Tioga Downs since its conception in 2007. The Drivers’ Championship will share the spotlight at Vernon Downs with the $700,000 (est.) Zweig Memorial Trot on Sunday (August 26).
The $200,000 (est.) Muscle Hill open mare trot and $200,000 (est.) Credit Winneropen trot will also return to Vernon Downs in 2012 on Friday (September 7).
The $500,000 (est.) Empire Breeders Classic for New York bred trotters will headline the month of June at Vernon, with the eliminations on Friday (June 1) and the $250,000 (est.) finals a week later on Friday (June 8).
Also scattered around the 2012 stakes schedule at Vernon Downs will be the Historic Stakes, along with a leg and the final of the $175,000 Kindergarten Classic.
“We pride ourselves at Tioga and Vernon on the racing product and promotions we offer our fans during the summer months in upstate New York, and look forward to what we hope will be the best year yet for Tioga and Vernon Downs,” said Jason M. Settlemoir, VP of Racing and Simulcast.
For more information on Tioga Downs or Vernon Downs, visit us online atwww.tiogadowns.com and www.vernondowns.com