by Dustin Ross, Regional Racing Operations Manager, Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — This past Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs, five local area high school students got the opportunity of a lifetime in the fourth annual Tioga Downs Scholarship Race.

Fred Brown photo

Billy Gilbert with Fern Paquet, Jr. won the Tioga Downs Scholarship Race.

The students representing five local area high schools were Megan Wright of Newark Valley High School; Billy Gilbert of Tioga Central High School; Kennedy Erickson of Elmira South Side High School; Alexander Goodrich of Owego Free Academy; and Kaushik Nagarur of Vestal High School.

The five students had participated in training sessions with some of the Tioga Downs horsemen over a three week period in preparation for Sunday’s race. Helping assist the students, and also riding in the double seated jog carts with them for the race, were Jason MacDougal, Tim Lanpher (driven by James Kennedy), Corey Braden, Fern Paquet, Jr., and Phil Fluet.

The students raced once around the racetrack in between the second and third race on Sunday afternoon and it was a tight finish on the wire in 1:15. Billy Gilbert with Fern Paquet Jr. won the event and earned $3,000, Kennedy Erickson got up to finish second with Corey Braden and took home $2,000. Finishing third and earning $1,200 was Megan Wright with Jason MacDougall. Taking home $800 for fourth was Alexander Goodrich with Phil Fluet. Finishing fifth, but still taking home $500, was Kaushik Nagarur with James Kennedy.

The sponsors helping support the third annual Scholarship Race are the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State, Southern Tier Harness Horsemen’s Association, New York Sire Stakes and Tioga Downs.

For more information on Tioga Downs, visit www.tiogadowns.com.