The 2024 New York Sire Stakes County Fair Series is off to a successful start at the historic Goshen racetrack

The New York Sire Stakes serves as a model for state racing programs and is the oldest harness racing program of its kind in the country.

PUBLISHED ON July 10, 2024

ALBANY – The 2024 New York Sire Stakes County Fair Series season kicked off successfully last Friday, July 5, at the Goshen Historic Track with 10 races featuring 2- and 3-year-old Standardbred horses in front of a capacity crowd, followed by Excelsior Series races on July 6 and 7.

“Harness racing is very popular in New York. Hundreds of races are held and thousands of dollars are given away in prize money so people can continue this great New York tradition,” said Brian O’Dwyer, chairman of the Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund.

The New York Sire Stakes serves as a model for state horse racing programs and is the oldest harness racing program of its kind in the country. The Goshen Historic Track, founded in 1838, is the oldest active harness racing track in the world.

Steve Jones, trustee of the Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund, noted, “It’s very important to preserve the tradition in Goshen, and that’s what we intend to do.” O’Dwyer and Jones were joined by Ralph Scunziano, executive director of the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund, at the historic Goshen racetrack on Friday to experience the race.

The County Fair Series, hosted by the Fund, is an ideal introduction to harness racing. These non-parimutuel, “earn while you learn” races throughout the state provide Standardbred horses and their drivers with valuable competitive experience on the racetrack. The horses have the opportunity to advance to the next class, to the Excelsior Series and eventually the New York Sire Stakes Series, where the best New York-bred 2- and 3-year-old Standardbreds compete.

The 2024 County Fair Series will continue throughout July and August at fairs across the state, culminating with the series finale on September 1 in Goshen:

• July 15, 2 p.m.: Dunkirk (Chautauqua County)
• July 16, 12:30 p.m.: Lowville (Lewis County)
• July 16, 12:00 p.m.: Hemlock (Livingston County)
• July 18, 12:00 p.m.: Afton (Chenango County)
• July 23, 11 a.m.: Boonville (Oneida County)
• July 25, 1:30 p.m.: Batavia Downs (Genesee County)
• July 29, 1 p.m.: Malone (Franklin County)
• July 30, 12:00 p.m.: Morris (Otsego County)
• July 31, 12:00 p.m.: Horseheads (Chemung County)
• August 1, 12:00 p.m.: Governor (St. Lawrence County)
• August 6, 12:00 p.m.: Norwich (Chenango County)
• August 6, 12:00 p.m.: Cobleskill (Schoharie County)
• August 9, 12:00 p.m.: Owego (Tioga County)
• August 12, 12:00 p.m.: Palmyra (Wayne County)
• August 12, 12:00 p.m.: Bath (Steuben County)
• August 14, 12:00 p.m.: Westport (Essex County)
• August 20, 12:00 p.m.: Trumansburg (Tompkins County)
• September 1, 1 p.m.: Goshen Historic Track – County Fair Series Finale

The County Fair Series 2024 Program Details on all County Fair racing dates, conditions and more. Visit nysirestakes.com for more information.

– Agriculture and NYS funds for the development of horse breeding