Brett Risi News Today

Harnesslink is proud to announce the hiring of Brett Risi as the websites new advertising executive who will be covering the North America harness racing market. Risi is the former Director of Racing Operations for three years at both Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs. He was also the Track Handicapper and on-air TV host at

Summer racing at two of New York’s finest harness racetracks, Vernon and Tioga Downs, is right around the corner with both opening days quickly approaching.  Both tracks are the only non-half-mile ovals in the entire Empire State and provide lucrative racing opportunities.

They must be completely filled out — front and back — and signed to be valid. The applications are available at the following links: Tioga Downs | Vernon Downs Those with questions are advised to contact Brett Risi at [email protected] or 607.699.7688. (Tioga and Vernon Downs)

Despite a month of crippling winter weather and the re-opening of racing in Ontario two weeks ago, betting at The Meadowlands has stayed on a roll. In fact, on Friday (March 5) night, management is hoping to up the track’s streak of wagering at least $3 million to an impressive 10th consecutive program. “We say it often,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “But horseplayers have really responded in a big way to our low takeout wagering menu. With si...

Live harness racing will make its return to upstate New York this spring with Tioga Downs preparing to kick off the 2021 season on Saturday, May 1. Racing will follow a Friday and Saturday evening, Sunday matinee schedule covering 59 dates until September 25. "With the casino operational and revenue projected to return to pre-COVID levels, the purses for the 2021 season will be close to the 2019 levels," said the track in a press release. "It is our hope that live attendance and on-site wagerin...

Dee Leftwich Photo Harness racing, at its very core, is a career that follows a routine pattern, but at the same time, follows no routine at all. In other words, the everyday routine of each stable is set through a similar schedule – morning feed, stalls, buckets, watering, jogging or training, bathing, lunch, and dinner. Now these schedules vary from stable to stable. Everything from how far a horse is jogged to how much they are fed to how many buckets of water each horse has can be differe...