New races for mares

Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs will begin racing this summer and the tracks will play host to several new events, including one for older trotting mares (with the $75,000 final at Delaware, Ohio) and another for pacing mares with a $75,000 final at Vernon.



The first annual Miss Versatility Trot for mares 4 years old and up will consist of two legs which will be contested for $25,000 at Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs. The $75,000 final will be on Jugette Day, Sept. 20, at the Delaware County Fair.



The finalists for the Miss Versatility Trot will receive two VIP passes to the Corwin Nixon Hospitality Suite, two box seats, two VIP parking passes and programs for Jugette and Jug Day. The winning horse will receive a free breeding to Tom Ridge, Revenue, Windsong's Legacy, or Cantab Hall courtesy of Jeffrey Gural.



"This race was created with the help of the Delaware County Fair officials to have something fun and different where the older trotting mares can do battle on different size tracks and compete for good money," stated Gural, who has been the leading force to bring racing back to Vernon Downs and harness racing to Tioga Downs.



Delaware County Fair Marketing Director Phil Terry said, "It is nice to have a guy like Jeff Gural with a passion for the industry who wants to try different strategies and add fun to the racing industry. We are happy to showcase the final of the Miss Versatility in Delaware, Ohio on one of harness racings biggest stages, Jugette Day."



The event for older pacing mares (4 years old and up) will be named the Artiscape. Sponsored by Brittany Farms, the Artiscape, will have an elimination race for $20,000 on Aug. 31 at Vernon Downs with an estimated $100,000 final at Vernon on Sept. 7.



"We noticed there is a gap for older pacing mares like Rainbow Blue between the Golden Girls at the Meadowlands and the Milton at Mohawk. We felt this would be a perfect opportunity to bring the top older pacing mares in North America to Vernon Downs," Gural noted.



In addition to winning the lucrative prize money, the winning horse will receive a free breeding to sire Artiscape, a $7,500 value, courtesy of Brittany Farms.



Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs also will be the site ofd the new Kindergarten Classic Series for 2 year olds. These events consist of six $10,000 legs contested at both Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs and an $85,000 estimated final at Vernon Downs on Sept. 14th. The Kindergarten Classic Series gives the 2 year olds a chance to compete for good money and prep for the big money stakes races that occur later in the year at The Red Mile, the Breeders Crown races at Mohawk, Dover Downs Matron stakes, and the fall late-closers at the Meadowlands.



Tioga Downs will also play host to the Grand Circuit with the Tompkins-Geers stakes. The events for 2 year olds have been scheduled for July 23 (trotting fillies and pacing colts) at 12:45 p.m. and July 24 (trotting colts and pacing fillies) at 6:50 p.m.



Vernon Downs is slated to open first for live racing with 76 live race days, pending licensing, regulatory and acquisition approval, on May 26, 2006. A special holiday matinee card on Memorial Day, May 30, is planned to begin at 12:45 p.m. along with Tuesday, July 4.



Tioga Downs will gear up for live racing with forty-three live race days on June 9, pending licensing and regulatory approval. Races will be every Sunday afternoon at 12:45 p.m. and Monday and Friday nights at 6:50 p.m. through Sept. 15th. Tioga Downs will have a special holiday post time of 12:45 p.m. on Labor Day, Sept. 4th.



For more information on racing at Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs, please contact Director of Racing, Greg DeFrank at (607) 699-3900.

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