by Dustin Ross, for Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs

Nichols, NY — Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs are pleased to announce some of their early closing events for the 2007 race season, along with race dates that are pending New York State Racing and Wagering Board regulatory approval.

Tioga Downs will begin racing on Friday, May 11 and race until Friday, September 14. Vernon Downs will begin racing action on Friday, April 6 until Saturday, November 3.

Vernon Downs will race on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays with post time at 6:45 p.m. until Tioga Downs begins racing. Vernon will then switch to Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m., and Thursdays and Saturdays at 6:45 p.m. In addition, on May 28, July 4, and September 3, Vernon will be hosting matinee programs at 1:15 p.m.

Tioga Downs will race on Fridays and Saturdays at 6:50 p.m. and Sundays at 1:15 p.m. In addition, on Monday, July 23 and Monday, August 20, Tioga will race programs at 6:45 p.m.

All race dates are still pending regulatory approval from the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.

The Credit Winner is a new early closing event for 2007 that is an Open Trot sponsored by the Credit Winner Syndicate. The Credit Winner will be raced over the seven-eighths-mile track at Vernon Downs for an estimated $125,000 purse on Thursday, August 16.

The Conway Hall is also a new early closing event for 2007 that is slated for mare trotters, sponsored by The Conway Hall Syndicate. Eliminations of $12,500 (est.) will be raced on Saturday, May 19 followed by the $100,000 (est.) final on Monday, May 28 at Vernon Downs.

Vernon Downs will host The Artiscape Pace for older mare pacers for the second straight year, which is sponsored by the Artiscape Syndicate and Brittany Farms Stallion Management. Eliminations of $12,500 (est.) will be held if necessary on Thursday, August 9 with the $100,000 (est.) final to go postward on Thursday, August 16. Last year the Artiscape pace was won by the Ross Croghan trainee Easton Alliance N, driven by Catello Manzi in a new track record for older mare pacers of 1:51.

The Miss Versatility for older mare trotters is sponsored by Allerage Farms and will be contested over three weeks, on three different size racetracks. The first leg will be held on Saturday, August 11 at Tioga Downs for $25,000 (est.). The second leg of the Miss Versatility will be at Vernon Downs on Thursday, September 13 for $25,000 (est.). The $100,000 (est.) final will be raced on Jug Day, Thursday, September 20, at the Delaware County Fair. Last year’s winners included Ticket To Glide in the first leg at Tioga Downs in 1:56.3 and the 2006 Breeders Crown champion Mystical Sunshine in the second leg at Vernon Downs in 1:55 for driver Ron Pierce. The $100,000 final was won by longshot Lavec Dream, who was piloted by George Brennan in 1:55.2 at odds of more than 48-1 at The Delaware County Fair for owner-trainer Peter Kleinhans. Connections of those mares participating in the Miss Versatility final will receive a hospitality package from the Little Brown Jug including tent access and seating.

The Kindergarten Classic will host events for both sexes and gaits of the freshman class for the second straight year, beginning in early July. There will be six $10,000 legs, an estimated $85,000 final, and a $10,000 consolation race for all four divisions. Finals for those on the trot will be contested at Vernon Downs on Thursday, September 13, while the competitors on the pace will battle it out at Tioga Downs on Friday, September 14.

“All of us at Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs anxiously await the 2007 racing season with much anticipation, after last year’s overwhelming response from the horsemen and race fans in both areas,” said Jason Settlemoir, Vice-President of Racing and Simulcast for both Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs. “We anticipate the best racing in the Empire State at both our properties and we are proud of what we have to offer to our horsemen and racing fans.

“Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs were aggressive last year with our early and late closing events along with our stakes races and we will continue to be in 2007. The Credit Winner and The Conway Hall fit very nicely in our racing schedule and allow yet another opportunity for those top trotting horses to go for good money and not miss any of the other top stakes.

“Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs, along with the Agricultural and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund and the New York stallion owners, in 2007 will also host the inaugural Empire Breeders Classic races, which are for New York-bred horses that go this year for finals of an estimated $150,000 for colts and fillies, both trotting and pacing, as 3-year-olds. More information will be out shortly about these lucrative events.

“We look for our overnight racing at Tioga Downs to go for about $80,000 a night and $55,000 a night at Vernon Downs. That coupled with our stakes and series events makes for some of the best racing in North America.”

For questions regarding racing at Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs e-mail jsettlemoir@tiogadowns.com, or call (607) 699-7588.

Check us out on the web at www.tiogadowns.com and www.vernondowns.com. All stakes and series information will be posted soon along with our pending race dates.