Dear Editor,
It is my pleasure to once again use your gracious forum to thank those individuals who made the Harness Horse Racing program at this year’s Tioga County Fair an outstanding success. Over 80 horses were entered in 19 races, more than twice the number of competitors from last year.
As in the recent past, we could not have offered the quality of racing at the Owego Driving Park without the most generous contributions of Mr. Jeff Gural and his Tioga Downs team. From guiding our efforts toward maintaining our racing surface, to funding the purses for the renewed Jim Brown Memorial Trot and Pace races, Mr. Gural’s love of our sport at all levels shown through. We look forward to working together for many years to come.
It takes a lot of hands on labor to accomplish a successful race meet, and while it would be impossible to list everyone, I’d like to mention special thanks to three individuals.
While Fair Board member Eric Johnson firmly maintains that he dislikes horses, he frets over the condition of “his” racetrack as if it were a $500,000 swimming pool. And it shows.
This year, horsemen were universal in their kudos to Eric for a job well done. We still have some issues in the first turn, where over 9-inches of fill was added after the flood, but those will be resolved as we move forward.
Charley Truman is the Tioga County Agricultural Society Vice-President, but you would never know it to see him disinfecting, plumbing, equipping and generally overseeing our new horse stable. There’s just something about a farmer and a barn.
Tioga County Clerk Bob Woodburn again acted as greeter and troubleshooter for our guest horsemen. Bob made sure that everyone’s needs were fulfilled, if they were lucky enough to be in one of the first come, first served stalls, or simply racing out of their truck or trailer.
Thanks to all three for supporting me and our professional race officials.
It was especially exciting to offer for the first time a heat featuring RUS New York. Known as the Hulse S. Mead Memorial Race under Saddle, it was a unique view back to the origins of standard bred racing. It is worthy to note that the times recorded by the riders for this race closely matched those of the trotting heats using sulkies. The purse for the Memorial was provided by the Early Owego Antique Center and RUS New York.
If you were unable to join us this year at the track, please consider attending in 2016. The New York Sire Stakes are always held on the first day of the Fair, traditionally a free admission day. There is no charge for Grandstand seating. We may have a few surprises in store next year.
Join us as we continue a 19th century tradition into the 21st century at the Owego Driving Park.
Sincerely,
Jim Mead
Harness Racing Superintendent
Tioga County Fair
