by M. Kelly Young, executive director, Harness Horse Breeders of New York

Nichols, NY — The New York State Fair meet at Tioga Downs continues on Sunday, August 12, with four divisions each of 3-year-old trotting colts and fillies. Purses for New York-bred horses will exceed $209,000 on the 14-race card.

While most of the horsemen racing on Sunday will be focused purely on the performance of their horses on the five-eighths-mile oval, trainer Guy Howard will be keeping an eye on the entire facility, in addition to sending out his homebred colt Blazing Winner for the 13th race State Fair division. Howard is the president of the Southern Tier Harness Horsemen’s Association, based at Tioga Downs, and will be part of the team ensuring the races go off smoothly for the horses and horsemen that will be shipping in from across the state.

Last year was the first time the State Fair meet was raced at Tioga Downs instead of at the State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. It was also Tioga Downs’ inaugural season and the experience gained by the horsemen and management led to several changes for this summer’s State Fair meet, part of the New York Sires Stakes program.

“Right now we are working on the track surface, preparing it for the State Fair races so it is in top condition,” Howard explained on Thursday afternoon as a grader re-surfaced the raceway. “We also added the tent with stalls to the paddock to hold at least nine races. Last year we could only hold five and this makes it a lot easier on the horsemen. And there have been general overall improvements to the facilities.

“We are excited to have horsemen from all over the state coming here for the State Fair. We want them to enjoy the racing, have fun and hopefully earn some money,” stated Howard.

The horsemen’s association and track management have worked hard to make Tioga a welcoming environment for incoming horsemen and owners. They will be treated to food in the paddock during race days, compliments of Jeff Gural, one of the owners of the raceway. Also on both Sundays of the meet, August 12 and 19, a barbeque for horsemen and owners will follow the racing card.

“We want people to enjoy themselves when they are here. We are trying to make it a place that horsemen want to come back to year after year and continue to participate in the State Fair,” added Howard.

Late in the afternoon Sunday, the trainer’s mind will have to turn to his Credit Winner colt Blazing Winner, who will start in the next to last race on the program. Howard admits he may be a longshot from post seven, but the trotter will make the most of his home-track advantage.

“He likes this track. He’s won two races here in the past two months,” explained Howard, who owns and bred the colt. “I also have Mike Simons driving and he was behind the horse for his last win (July 15).”

Blazing Winner will be facing powerhouse Conway Court, winner of three New York Sires Stake legs, and Magic, a winner of two legs. But Howard, a Binghamton home builder who turned full-time trainer in recent years, realizes that even an overmatched starter gets lucky sometimes.

“Blazing Winner’s first start was here (May 13) and on paper he didn’t look like he had a shot. But he raced well and paid over $90 to win,” the trainer recalled. “I told all my friends and family not to bet on him so some of them were pretty angry at me afterwards.”

Howard also trained and raced Blazing Winner’s dam, Dixie Hit. She was a New York Sires Stake standout who won four legs and earned $81,000 as a 3-year-old. She also won her division of the New York State Fair back in 2002.

Fans will easily spot Howard’s colt on the track. “He’s a pretty striking horse with a wide white blaze down the center of his face.”

Post time Sunday is 1:15 p.m. A Family Day is hosted by the raceway every Sunday with activities for children to enjoy on the apron. Parking and admission are always free.