by Nick Salvi, for Tioga and Vernon Downs

Nichols, NY — The New York State Fair races for 3-year-olds are scheduled for the upcoming holiday weekend at Vernon and Tioga Downs.

This year the NYSF is considered a part of the Excelsior series, so the horse must be eligible to the Excelsior series to race in the NYSF races. The purses for all NYSF races will be $12,000 (plus all entry fees, $110). Points will be awarded toward the Excelsior finals.

The NYSF/Excelsior 3-year-old colt and filly trots will be raced at Vernon Downs on Friday (May 25). Entries will be taken by the Vernon Race office at 315.829.6825 on Tuesday (May 22) until 9 a.m. The condition sheet is here.

Vernon’s holiday racing schedule is Friday (May 25) and Saturday (May 26) at 6:55 p.m. Memorial Day (May 28) racing is a 1:15 p.m. matinee card.

Tioga Downs will be dark this Friday for a concert, but live racing resumes on Saturday (May 26) at 6:50 p.m. and Sunday (May 27) with a special evening post time of 6:30 p.m.

The NYSF/Excelsior pacing colts and fillies will race at Tioga on Monday (May 28) as part of the Memorial Day matinee card beginning at 1:30 p.m.

The draw for Monday’s stakes card will be on Friday (May 25), box closing at 9 a.m. The Tioga Race Office phone number is 607.699.7688 and that condition sheet is here.