$32,000 drivers' championship field set

July 17, 2007

Virtually all of this year's driving stars--from Tim Tetrick, who leads both the win and earning lists, to Jody Jamieson, whose stats led him to a sponsor's exemption, to Tioga Downs' leading driver Mike Simons--will be at Tioga Downs for the track's first annual $32,000 drivers' championship on Sunday, July 29.

Participating in the contest and aiming for the first-place prize of $18,000 are the top seven money-winning drivers in North America: Tetrick, Brian Sears, Ron Pierce, Tony Morgan, Yannick Gingras, David Miller and Andy Miller. They will be joined by Tioga's Simons and Jamieson, one of Canada's leading drivers who earlier this year won the North America Cup with Tell All.

The list of drivers is as follows in money-winning order:

1. Tim Tetrick: Has won over 650 races already in 2007 with earnings of $8,250,001. Has driven Southwind Lynx to victory in two million-dollar races for trainer George Teague, Jr. (Art Rooney Pace and the Meadowlands Pace). Also handles the driving duty on world champion Southwind Tempo.

2. Brian Sears: Has earnings of $6,061,600. One of his main mounts has been 2006 Dan Patch older pace award winner Lis Mara. Lis Mara stands in the top spot on the Standardbred poll for week 11 with earnings just shy of $400,000.

3. Ron Pierce: Earning of $5,597,689 with his main mount coming from early Hambletonian favorite Donato Hanover (three-for-three, $260,000). Among Pierce�s other top mounts are the now sidelined Mr. Muscleman and Woodrow Wilson early favorite Duneside Perch.

4. Tony Morgan: Earnings of $5,142,425. Morgan has been competing a lot at Yonkers Raceway with top horses He Wants It All and Jereme�s Jet. Some of his other top mounts at Yonkers have included Alexi Killean and Buckeye One.

5. Yannick Gingras: Earnings of $5,084,589. Has driven top older mare contender Darlin's Delight to just shy of $300,000 in earnings this year with a mark of 1:49.1.

6. David Miller: Earnings of $4,788,099. Drove Mister Big to an upset victory in the $650,000 Haughton Memorial at the Meadowlands. Miller has also been the driver on Sutter Hanover, who has earned just shy of $500,000 in 2007 and was the fifth-place finisher in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace.

7. Andy Miller: Earnings of $4,642,145. Coming off a victory in the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final for 2-year-old filly pacers with Miss Scarlet. The filly is a perfect two-for-two and has already earned over $100,000.

Mike Simons: Tioga Downs' leading moneywinning driver will also compete in the first annual drivers' championship. Simons does most of his driving at Pocono Downs and Tioga Downs on a weekly basis. He has won more than 130 races in 2007 and has earnings of more than $1.3 million.

Jody Jamieson: Has been selected as the Sponsor�s exemption for the Tioga Downs drivers' championship. Jamieson has been handling the driving duties for one of the top 3-year-old pacers in the country, Tell All. Tell All won the North America Cup and finished second in the Meadowlands Pace for trainer Blair Burgess.

There will be an autograph session with all drivers involved with the drivers' championship from 12:30 p.m. until 1 p.m. on the apron.

Purses for all overnight races during the day of the drivers' championship will be increased by 20 percent. Horses in the drivers' championship that finish out of the money (sixth through ninth) will still receive $100 for supporting the Tioga Downs drivers' championship. (with files from Tioga Downs)

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