by Jason Settlemoir, regional VP of racing operations, Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — Tioga Downs hosted 11 races on a beautiful Saturday night (June 16) before a crowd of more than 2,450. The night was highlighted by two divisions of the Nichols True Value Pacing Series for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers.

Fred Brown Photography

Shark Dressed Man was a 1:55 winner on Saturday.

Shark Dressed Man, shipping in from the state of Illinois, was the best of the first division in the fourth race. The son of Shark St Partners came charging late to win in 1:55 for owners ECS Racing LLC, trainer Merle LaFountaine and driver Donald Dancer. He scored by a neck and established a new lifetime mark.

The seventh race was the second division of the Nichols True Value Pacing Series, where Nighthawk Hall, the son of Blissfull Hall shipping in from the Big M, was crowned the winner by four lengths. Howard “Pacing” Parker and his teammate rolled to the top and never looked back, posting fractions of :27.1, :56.2, and 1:25 before rolling home a winner in 1:54.4.

Parker continued his winning ways and is now the leading reinsman at Tioga Downs. After winning two races on Friday night’s card, Howard won five races on Saturday night’s card, putting him up by two on Mike Simons for the leading driver spot. Josh Marks, currently fourth in the standings, posted a driving double.

Tioga Downs continues live racing on Sunday afternoon (June 17) and features an outstanding 12 race card. The features are the Rags to Riches final, going for a purse of $85,000, and the consolation for the Rags to Riches series, to be raced for $15,000.

The track’s Video Gaming Facility operates daily from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. and offers year-round simulcasting of the top harness racing action and thoroughbreds. Tioga Downs races every Friday and Saturday night at 6:50 p.m. (EDT) and Sunday afternoon at 1:15 p.m. Tioga Downs just recently added Wednesday, July 4, with a post time of 6:50 p.m.