About Tioga Downs

Tioga Downs is a 5/8 mile harness race track which is now complemented by a casino and full resort with races shown live on TVG.

Featuring some of the better harness stakes races anywhere in the country, Tioga Downs has been a major success since reopening having at first been built in the 70’s to host quarterhorse racing.

The facility sits in Nicholls, New York but right on the Pennsylvania state line just 38 miles from Ithaca and 80 miles from Scranton and so draws harness racing fans from both states.

Tioga Downs History

Tioga Downs was opened back in 1976 as a quarterhorse facility which was back then known as Tioga Park, though after only three troubled seasons the track was forced to close down having been losing thousands of dollars per day according to its former owners.

From that point, the facility was used only for private races and sometimes a flea market with the site in danger of becoming completely derelict.

In line with other states and many other tracks, lobbying began in 2000 for Video Lottery Terminals to be approved with this promoted in this area by Jeffrey Gural, a strong racing enthusiast and racehorse owner as well as being a real-estate developer.

In 2005 this was finally given the go-ahead and with the aforementioned Gural having led a consortium to buy Tioga Park for $32million; the track could re-open in July with a huge ceremony marking the occasion having undergone a complete renovation.

By summer of 2006 the track was ready to race and became known as Tioga Downs at that point, offering up live harness racing as well as daily simulcast wagering to complement the now legal 800 Lottery Terminals.

Food and beverage areas were installed all around the facility and the track has made a success of hosting concerts and weddings during its down time, especially in the winter months.

Biggest Races

Tompkins Geers – 3yo pace, June ($125,000)
Tompkins Geers – 2yo pace and trot, August ($100,000)
Joie De Vie – open mare trot, August ($175,000)
Crawford Farms – open trot, August ($175,000)
Empire Breeders’ Classic Finals – 3yo pace, August ($250,000)
Roll With Joe – open pace, August ($175,000)
Artiscape – open mare pace, August ($175,000)
Reynolds – 2yo pace and trot, August ($240,000)

Place Your Bets At Tioga Downs With TVG!

Now you’re clued up on all things Tioga, don’t forget you can wager on races there with TVG. Head to our schedules page to check out the latest race times then bet and watch live!