by Dustin Ross, regional racing operations manager, Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — Tioga Downs will kick off its 2008 racing season this Saturday, May 3, with a post time of 6:50 p.m. Ten races have been drawn up for the opening card featuring two divisions of the Nichols True Value Trotting Series and three divisions of the Tioga Country Club Trotting Series.

Hall of famer William O’Donnell, aka “The Magic Man,” will be in the sulky Saturday night behind four of Fred Grant’s trotters in the first leg of the two trotting series. He will also be picking up two catch drives behind Jodi Schillaci’s and Peter Stratton’s trotters on Saturday’s card. O’Donnell has made 5,691 trips to the winner’s circle in his brilliant career and has racked up $97,425,128 in career earnings.

The co-feature of the night will be the $15,000 Open Pace which has been slated as race eight of ten. Seven top pacers will meet, with JK Big Shot taking the honor of the 5-2 morning line favorite after two fifth-place finishes in the Levy series at Yonkers Raceway. Joe Pavia, Jr. will be doing the steering for trainer Gary Lemaister and owner Jean Picard of Canada.

Although the wings of the gate won’t fold the inaugural race of 2008 until 6:50 p.m. there will be plenty of entertainment all day long. Tioga will host a Tent Party Extravaganza for the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby, which will include a $10 tent buffet, where you can watch Churchill Downs all day long on three of our brand new 50 inch plasma televisions. There will be a VIP party in our winner’s circle lounge during the Kentucky Derby, along with contests for best and worst hats of the day.

Don’t miss out on all the fun and entertainment this Saturday, May 3, at Tioga Downs. For more information on contests, bands, fireworks, and food specials for the Kentucky Derby and opening race night, check out our Web site at www.tiogadowns.com or give us a call at 1-888-WIN-TIOGA.

On Sunday, May 4, the pacers are in the spotlight of the early closing series at Tioga Downs. Twelve races, all of which are late closing series races, will go to the post and feature hopeful 3-year-old pacers, many of which will be in sire stakes action at some point this season.

Don’t forget that every Sunday at Tioga Downs during the racing season is family day with train rides and bounce houses for the kids, a Tioga tent barbeque and much more. Post time for Sunday’s racing action is 1:15 p.m. Don’t miss out on the place to be in the Southern Tier, open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.