Tioga to host NYSS Day of Champions

Nichols, NY – The New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) annual year-end harness racing championships will not require lights this season, as Tioga Downs will host the event with a special 1:00 pm post time (pending regulatory approval) on September 10, turning the “Night of Champions” into the “Day of Champions.”

The matinee card will feature eight races for the best state-bred 2 and 3-year-olds, competing for purses of $200,000 each. A second card of overnight events will take place starting at 6:15pm.

“We are proud to showcase our facility to horsemen and fans alike for this prestigious event,” said vice president of racing, Jason Settlemoir. “Our entire staff, from those in racing, to the casino, the hotel, the restaurants – everyone – is working hard to ensure the Tioga Downs experience is as memorable as it is rewarding.”

Tioga Downs is a premiere vacation and entertainment destination in New York’s Southern Tier and has seen substantial growth in recent years. In 2017, Tioga Downs added a 161-room hotel, complete with over 8,500 square feet of banquet space. There are several restaurants, a spa, golf course, and in 2019, the FanDuel Sportsbook opened as the company’s first retail sportsbook in New York State.

Jeff Gural, Tioga Downs’ owner, believes, “hosting the Day of Champions is about bringing together the harness racing community. Horsemen work incredibly hard to get here, and we hope we can reward them with an unforgettable trip to Tioga Downs.”

The New York Sire Stakes program promotes the breeding, owning and racing of standardbred horses in New York State. For more information about the program, visit nysirestakes.com.

From Tioga Downs