by Dustin Ross, regional racing operations manager, Tioga/Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Vernon Downs, the 2009 host of the New York Sire Stakes “Night of Champions,” is proud to announce that nine horses will compete in every Sire Stake Final on Saturday, September 26.

Previously held on half-mile tracks, the New York Sire Stakes Finals were always eight-horse fields. The move to the seven-eighths-mile track in Vernon, N.Y. allows for one more starter in each division and helps to further promote the great New York Sire Stakes program throughout the State of New York.

“The New York Sire Stakes is such an overwhelming success that other states are duplicating it,” said John D. Sabini, Chairman of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board and the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund.

Peter Goold, executive director of the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Fund said, “Our New York Sire Stakes program has always been one of the most competitive state-bred racing programs in the nation. With the ‘Night of Champions’ races held on a bigger track this year, we are able to open up the event to an additional eight horses, making the competition even stronger and showcasing even more of the most talented New York-breds.”

“We are excited to host the New York Sire Stakes ‘Night of Champions’ at Vernon Downs this year and having nine-horse fields gives the bettors more to choose from, and also allows one extra horse to qualify for the $175,000 final for each division. The bigger track also allows for a little more ease when drawing the outside post position,” said Jason Settlemoir, VP of Racing and Simulcast for Vernon/Tioga Downs.

The New York Sire Stakes “Night of Champions” is the culmination of the three-month-long NYSS harness racing season, which is specifically designed for 2- and 3-year-old trotters and pacers bred in New York State. The leading point-earning horses will compete for a lucrative $1.4 million in total purses.

The beginning years of the New York Sire Stakes boasted purses of just $1 million each season. As the years progressed and New York’s Standardbred breeding industry grew, so too did the NYSS purses. Today the NYSS offers approximately $16 million in purses during the season. The New York Sire Stakes holds races at all seven of New York State’s harness tracks and at 22 county fairs, providing unmatched racing opportunities for the many horsemen and race fans in New York State.

Post time for the New York Sire Stakes “Night of Champions” on Saturday, September 26, is 6:55 p.m. (EDT). For more information visit www.vernondowns.com.