Stakes Nominations Increase at Vernon and Tioga Downs

With the March 15 payments taken and tallied, several of the marquee events scheduled for the 2011 Tioga & Vernon season have realized substantial increases.

The popular Free For All early closers are up slightly and have again captured the best and most recognizable equine personalities harness racing has to offer.

The anticipation of the excitement created by the enduring stars of the sport speaks directly to the importance of their continued participation on the racetrack.

In last season’s inaugural Bettor’s Delight Open Pace, Hypnotic Blue Chip, Won The West and Foiled Again chased the now retired Shark Gesture to the wire in an overall Tioga track record of 1:48.3.


Those three will find some extremely talented opposition awaiting them in their quest to capture this year’s trophy.

Dreamfair Eternal is slated to defend her 2010 Artiscape tiara (resulting in a divisional standard of 1:49.4) against a deep representation of the finest older pacing mares in the game.

Both of these important races, each with an estimated purse of $200,000, will go at Tioga on Sunday, June 12.


The Miss Versatility for trotting mares has a leg at each track and Buck I St Pat will attempt to recapture the crown that Autumn Escapade wrestled away in 2010.

The diagonal divas will make another appearance at Vernon Downs on September 2nd for the newly christened $200,000E Muscle Hill.

On that same evening, The Credit Winner Open Trot (also estimated at $200,000) will feature last year’s winner Lucky Jim defending his title against reigning Older Trotter of the Year Enough Talk and 2010 3YO Breeders Crown winner Break The Bank K, among a number of formidable foes.

The numbers for the 2011 Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) for New York sired sophomores are up substantially over last season.

That group of races will reward the connections of the participants with well in excess of $1 million in purses over Memorial Day weekend.

The Kindergarten Trotting Classics launched Breeders Crown winner Manofmanymissions’ career last year and those races are up 30‐40% in nominations going into this season.

The Red Mile will host two Kindergarten legs in September with the finals to be raced at Vernon in late October.

Tioga & Vernon are proud to host the prestigious Historic stakes for the first time in 2011.

The 3YO Historic events will be raced at Tioga in late June/early July and the 2YO races will go over Vernon’s 7/8’s mile oval on September 2nd.

The John F. Simpson Memorial stakes return to Tioga & Vernon in 2011 with the 3YO nominees up 74% over last year’s numbers.

The Tompkins‐Geers stakes have enjoyed a renaissance at Tioga since landing there in 2006 and will again offer a mid summer treat to the racing fans of Nichols, NY.

“It is very gratifying to see such an enthusiastic response to our stakes program. We wish to convey our appreciation to the faithful sponsors of these events; The Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund & New York Stallion Owners (EBC), Allerage Farms (Miss Versatility), Blue Chip Farm (Credit Winner & Bettor’s Delight), Brittany Farm (Artiscape), and the Muscle Hill Syndicate (Muscle Hill Mare Trot), and Hanover Shoe Farm’s Jim Simpson (John F. Simpson Memorial)," from Tioga/Vernon Racing VP Jason Settlemoir.

Nomination information will be posted on the Tioga & Vernon web sites soon.

The Future is Looking UP at the DOWNS! New Convention Center Will Create More Jobs!

Vernon Downs Casino & Hotel is looking to fill many positions throughout the facility as we prepare for the upcoming 2011 Harness Racing season and the opening of our new convention center.

Vernon Downs will be taking applications immediately and will be holding two Job Fairs on Saturday, March 5 from 8am to 1pm and on Wednesday, March 9 from 11am to 6pm upstairs at the track in the Gold Cup Room.

Vernon Downs is looking to hire people to work in all areas of the operation, which, in turn, will help boost the local economy.

These jobs range from part-time, seasonal employees to full-time management positions in areas as diverse as Security, Food & Beverage, Gaming, Racing and Hotel Operations.

The property also offers an all-suites hotel and is currently undergoing a
new Convention Center Expansion project that will create additional job openings.

According to Chairman of American Racing & Entertainment Jeff Gural, “Vernon Downs has shown significant growth over the past 5 years, and we are proud to be in a position to employ additional local workers who can continue to grow with us.”

During the Job Fairs, Department Managers will conduct same-day interviews, with on-the-spot hiring and drug testing.

Vernon Downs Casino & Hotel kicks off our sixth season of live harness racing on Friday, April 15th with food, family fun and fireworks to cap off the evening.

Vernon Downs Casino & Hotel currently employs almost 300 people and is open year-round with video gaming machines, simulcast horse racing, a restaurant, sports bar, and special entertainment events.

Vernon Downs is located close to Routes 5 and 31 in Vernon, NY.

Tioga & Vernon Downs Offer A Bounty Of Stakes In 2011

The 2011 stakes season at Tioga & Vernon Downs has something to offer everyone, from the top older horses in the game to early lessons for freshman trotters in the Kindergarten Classic.

Stakes racing begins with the John Simpson Memorials for three-year-olds, which have been positioned in mid-May as a prep for the Empire Breeders Classics.

The $1,000,000 Empire Breeders Classics (EBC) are offered at both tracks over Memorial Day weekend. Restricted to New York bred sophomores, the EBC also signals the start to the lucrative NYSS season. The trotters will have eliminations on May 21st and a $250,000E Final for each sex on Monday, May 30th at Vernon Downs. The pacers will race at Tioga, elims on Sunday, May 22nd and the $250,000E Finals on the next Sunday.

The excitement builds in June when the promise of riches brings the best older horses in the sport to Tioga Downs. The $200,000E Bettor's Delight (open) and $200,000E Artiscape (mares) will make Tioga the center of the harness racing universe on Sunday, June 12th.

Shark Gesture set the all-age track record of 1:48.3f in the inaugural Bettor's Delight last season, while recently crowned Canadian Horse of the Year, Dreamfair Eternal posted the first sub 1:50 mile in Tioga history (1:49.4f) in the 2010 Artiscape.

Just a week later, the top older trotting mares will make their annual appearance at Tioga Downs for the $25,000 first leg of the popular Miss Versatility series.

Tioga and Vernon will host the tradition laden Historic Stakes ($600,000E) for the first time in 2011. The 3YO trots will be held on Saturday, June 25th and the 3YO pacers will come a week later on Saturday, July 2nd. Both sets of 3YO races are at Tioga. The payments for those events remain with the Hambletonian Society.

The Grand Circuit rolls into Tioga with the time-honored Tompkins-Geers stakes ($600,000E) scheduled for July 14th - 18th. The Tompkins-Geers series has served some of the game's top stakes outfits as a solid place to start their prized freshmen in anticipation of rich summer stakes.

The best harness drivers in the world will convene at Tioga Downs to participate in the 2011 World Drivers Championships. Tioga will host a leg of this prestigious event on Monday, August 1st.

Sunday, August 28th promises to be the highlight of the season at Tioga as, for the first time, the Tioga Drivers' Championship will be contested on the same card with the $500,000 Zweig Memorial (Open & Filly divisions). The lure of the rich Zweig trots and the ever increasing popularity among the drivers of the Tioga tryst should insure a bang up afternoon at the Nichols, NY venue.

Thing heat up at Vernon as the Tioga season draws to a close in September.

Friday, September 2nd will bring the very best trotters in the world to Vernon Downs for the $200,000E Credit Winner (open) and newly christened $200,000E Muscle Hill (mares). That evening will be enhanced with all two-year-old divisions of the Historic Stakes.

Vernon hosts the 3rd leg of the Miss Versatility a week later on September 9th, with the $100,000E Final of the Miss V staged on the Delaware, Ohio strip as a part of the Jug day program.

As the leaves fall in central NY, the sport's top freshman will travel to Vernon for the two-year-old divisions of the Simpson Memorial stakes on October 14th & 15th.

Some of those trotting fillies and colts will stay for the last leg of the popular Kindergarten Classic series on October 21st, hoping to secure a spot in the $150,000E Final the following Friday. Just last season, the Kindergarten graduating class included the Breeders Crown 2YO Colt Trot winner, Manofmanymissions, who began his career in the series.

The Red Mile will host two legs of the Kindergarten in 2011, scheduled in September to provide timely racing opportunities for the youngsters.

Information on all of the above races, including nomination forms and racing schedules may be accessed at http://www.tiogadowns.com/racinginfo.php

Vernon Downs simulcast closed Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Due to inclement weather across much of New York State, the limited amount of product on Tuesday, and numerous tracks on the east coast having been canceled, Vernon Downs’ simulcast operations only have been closed for Tuesday, February 1, 2011. The Video Gaming Floor will remain open under its usual operating hours.

Scott Warren joins Vernon Downs Race Office

Vernon Downs is proud to announce that Scott Warren will be joining the race team as Race Secretary for the 2011 race season.

Warren comes to Vernon Downs after serving more than 15 years at Rosecroft Raceway, in which he played many different roles.

Since 1995, Warren has held numerous titles including Assistant Race Secretary, Clerk of Course, Program Director, Simuclast Director, Announcer, and Race Secretary.

Prior to joining Rosecroft Raceway in 1995, Warren served as Assistant Race Secretary and Announcer at Ocean Downs.

"I have heard nothing but positive things about the way management treats their horsemen and employees at Tioga and Vernon, and I would like to thank Jason Settlemoir for the opportunity," said Warren. "After looking at the 2011 stakes schedule I wish opening day was tomorrow night at Vernon because it looks like 2011 will be an exciting year of racing."

Warren currently lives in Harrington, Delaware, is an active member of the United State Harness Writer's Association, and is an owner in the standardbred business.

"Scott brings depth and knowledge to our racing office at Vernon and we are happy to have him joining us for 2011," said Jason M. Settlemoir, VP of Racing and Simulcast. "Not only can he run the day-to-day operations of a race office but he can fill in at many other locations around our racetracks if ever needed."

Vernon Downs 2010 Handle Figures

Vernon Downs rounded out 2010 with almost an identical posting of their on track handle from 2009, however the export number for the 2010 race season was down 9.5% over 2009.

On the import side at Vernon Downs however, 2010 showed almost a 2% increase from 2009 and was the highest import number in the past five years since American Racing and Entertainment took over Vernon Downs.

However, the VGM revenue at Vernon Downs posted a strong year and with all the numbers in has increased from 2009 by more than 10%.

“While obviously the significant increases in our VGM revenue will result in more money for purses next year, the fact that our racing revenues were also stable or slightly better than 2009 is encouraging as well,” said Jeff Gural, Chairman of American Racing and Entertainment.

Tioga Downs showed increases in both live and export handle during its 2010 race meet, live handle was up for the year by nearly 4%, while the export numbers jumped by more than an 8% increase.

The import numbers at Tioga stayed about the same compared to 2009 despite Tioga closing its simulcast operations on Monday and Tuesdays since November.

Tioga Downs also showed strong gains in VGM revenue as 2010 was up over 2009 by 7%.

For more information on Tioga Downs or Vernon Downs please visit us online at www.tiogadowns.com or www.vernondowns.com.

Longtime Vernon Downs Horseman Manzi Passes Away

Noted Vernon Downs horseman Rocco Frank Manzi, 59, passed away peacefully at his home in Oneida on Thursday (Dec. 30, 2010) with his family and friends at his side.

Born on April 4, 1951 in Syracuse, Rocco was the first of Frank J. and Jennie (Alba) Manzi’s eight children.

He went on to become president and chief executive officer of Syracuse’s Yellow Cab taxi and Century Transportation companies.

In addition to his primary occupation, Manzi was also a successful Standardbred owner (a total of 81 horses since 1984) and trainer (with total earnings of more than $678,000 from 1992-2004), based at Vernon Downs.

A longtime member of the Harness Horse Association of Central New York, and the United States Trotting Association, Rocco continued to own harness horses after retiring from the training ranks.

Some of his more prominent horses included Sea Special, Kings and Queens, The Best, Proud American, Delightful Dancer and Touch Of The Past, among others.

In addition to his racehorse involvement, Manzi enjoyed spending time with his beloved grandchildren Dennis, Sierra and Lauren, especially at the family’s summer camp.

Predeceased by his parents, Rocco is survived by his wife of 37 years, Ermilinda (Mussi) of Oneida, and his son Patrick (Jamie) Manzi.

He also leaves behind his siblings Frank J. (Diane) Manzi II, Floreen (Andrew) Pollastro, Anne (Ricky) Reagan, Robert Manzi, David Manzi, Paul Manzi and Laurie (Manzi) Keeling, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Malecki Funeral Home Inc., 464 Sherrill Rd., Sherrill on Tuesday (Jan. 4) from 3-8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday (Jan. 5) at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home.

Entombment will be in Our Lady-Peace Cemetery, 8668 Oswego Road, Baldwinsville, NY, 13027.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to Hospice of Central New York.