by John Horne, for Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — Tioga Downs will begin its 13th season of harness racing with a live card on Kentucky Derby Day (Saturday, May 5), with a special post time of 5 p.m.

The celebration will include a Derby Hat contest, and t-shirt and magnet giveaways. The day will also include the Edward P Maloney pipe band as well as a $1,000 Derby Dream Bet Promotion.

The two Dream Bet winners will receive $500 to wager on any horse in the Kentucky Derby. They will take home any winnings. The Kentucky Derby will be shown live on our large toteboard screen as well as on televisions all around Tioga Downs.

A spectacular fireworks display will follow live racing.

Highlights for the 2018 season include Camel and Ostrich races, as well as the debut of Weiner dog races.

The always popular Camel and Ostrich races will make their return on Father’s Day (June 17). The Weiner dog races will be held on Saturday (Aug. 11). If you think you have the fastest Dachshund in the southern tier be sure to register him or her at www.tiogadowns.com starting on May 14.

Tioga Downs will once again be the host to some of the best harness horses in the country.

On Sunday (June 10), Tioga will feature a $75,000 leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old pacers and trotters.

On Sunday (Aug. 12), the five-eighths-mile track will feature the Empire Breeders Classic eliminations, with races for both 3-year-old fillies and colts. Also featured on the card is the $175,000 Joie De Vie Open Mare Trot, as well as the $175,000 Crawford Farms Open Trot. In the 2017 version of the Joie De Vie, Emoticon Hanover set a world record for 4-year-old trotting mares on a five-eighths-mile track with a time of 1:50.2. She owns the overall Tioga Downs track record for trotters as well.

On Sunday (Aug. 19), Tioga Downs will feature the Empire Breeders Classic finals for 3-year-old pacing fillies and colts, each racing for a purse of $250,000 (est.). Also on that day will be the $175,000 Roll With Joe Open Pace and the $175,000 Artiscape Open Mare Pace.

The popular Million Dollar Ball Drop promotion will culminate on August 19. The Horseplay Car Giveaway will be on closing night (Sept. 22).

The featured race this Saturday (May 5) is the $12,000 Open Trot featuring Tioga’s top trotter for both 2016 and 2017, Prairie Fortune. He is trained by the top trainer of 2017, Mike Deters. Deters won the training title with 29 wins. Patti Harmon was second with 24 victories, followed by Tony Dinges (23), Gary Messenger (23), and Joe Skowyra (20).

Mike Simons was the driving champion in 2017 with 74 wins. Jim Taggart Jr. was second with 55 wins. Jim Meittinis and Mike Merton tied for third with 53 victories each. Aaron Byron rounded out the top five with 46 trips to the winner’s circle.

The 11-race card begins at 5 p.m. For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.