Vernon Down's To Host Racing Under Saddle

Race Date: Friday, Aug. 25      (Race will be held after the first race)                               

Race Office Direct Line: 315-829-6825 

Entry by:    DECLARE BY 9:00AM TUESDAY,  AUG. 22, 2017

                                                                 

Purse: $3,000 to be distributed evenly per NY State Law 

Starters: Will not be raced with less than 5 entries. Up to 9 Starters will be eligible. If there are more than 9 entries, horses that have gone behind the gate with more than one other horse proving to stay flat the most in RUS events in 2017 will get preference. After that, horses will be drawn by date of when last raced rather it be in harness or RUS. 

Conditions: RUS Trot (NW of $2,000 L5 harness starts in 2017 with a 6,000 P/C L/S at any parimutuel track)

Track: Vernon Downs 4229 Stuhlman Road Vernon, New York 13476

Rider requirements:

1. Must hold a current active RUS license with the USTA. 
2. Must have at least 2 charted lines (staying flat with one being in the time needed to race) in the 2017 season. 
3. Must participate in at least 2 fundraisers with a minimum of $200 raised or get $200 in sponsors
4. Will be expected to have all proper forms filled out and be prepared to blow a breathalyzer. 
5. Must have proper colors, helmet, boots and safety vest. 

Horse Requirements: Any horse that has qualified or showed a RUS charted line in 2:14 on a half mile track or larger may enter. Horses showing a RUS qualifier or charted line faster than 2:01 is not eligible. Horse must show a RUS qualifier in the 2017 season and not show two consecutive breaks at a pari-mutual track. 

Fair Series Nearing Finals

There is just one more race left in the RUS New York 2017 Fair Series.

The Tuesday, Aug. 22 race in Tompkins County Fair in Trumansburg will mark the final opportunity for eligibility into the championship race. The final will be held along with the harness fair final races at Saratoga Casino and Hotel on Friday, Sept. 15. Each horse that finishes in the final will earn $600. Prizes will also be awarded to the winning horse and high point rider for the season. 

The series included nine legs held at different fairs across the state. Points earned along the way  determine final entries. Horses need at least three starts to be eligible. 

Standings: 

"Promoting Racing Under Saddle and the versatility of the Standardbred breed."

• HOME

* Railroad Lane -175

* Iron Will-112 ​

* R George-107

* One True Friend -100 

 Admirable Hanover-75 

Boy Can She Fly- 62

Mr. Avalanche -37

Those with a * next to their name have the required number of races to enter the final. ​

The High Point Rider Award will be presented to the rider who has earned the most points, regardless of horse(s) ridden throughout the series. Riders must participate in at least three races to qualify. 

Standings: 

*Michelle Miller-233

* Vanessa Karlewicz- 137

* Heather Reese -112

* Hillary Hartnett-100

* Kara Duh-62

Codie Smith- 24 

Those with a * at the end of their name have ridden in 3 races to qualify for the award. 

RUS is yet to be self sufficient in the United States particularly because of legislation that prohibits wagering. Hopefully one day that will change. But until then, finding sponsors and ways to fundraise has been the biggest challenge going forward. RUS NY could not host races without the help of our sponsors. 

Click here for a link to sponsors - most logos are linked to a website or Facebook page. 

Tioga Downs To Host Racing Under Saddle

Race Date: Sunday, July 23 

Race Office Direct Line: (607) 699-7688 

Entry by: DECLARE BY 9:00AM THURSDAY, JULY 20

Purse: $5,000 to be distributed evenly per NY State Law

Starters: Will not be raced with less than 7 entries. Up to 9 Starters will be eligible. If there are more than 9 entries, horses that have gone behind the gate with more than one other horse proving to stay flat the most in 2017 will get preference. After that horses will be drawn by date of when last raced rather it be in harness or RUS.

Conditions: RUS Trot (6,000 P/C L/S at any parimutuel track)


Track: Tioga Downs —- 2384 W. River Road Nichols, New York 13812

USTA Rules will be used


Rider requirements:

1. Must hold a current active RUS license with the USTA.
   
2. Will be expected to have all proper forms filled out and be prepared to blow a
   breathalyzer.
   
3. Must have proper colors, helmet, boots and safety vest.
   

Horse Requirements: 

A horse shall be considered qualified if it meets the following standards at the track where the horse is qualifying: 1/2 mile track – 2:16; 5/8 mile track – 2:14; 7/8 mile or larger track – 2:12. 

RUS NY Fair Series To Kick Off In Afton

The excitement of racing under saddle at New York State county fairs will continue this summer.

RUS New York, an organization that helps promote the sport and the versatility of Standardbreds, is excited to announce its fourth fair series. Races will begin on July 6 Afton Fair and conclude with the final to be held at Saratoga Casino and Hotel September 15.

The series will include nine race legs and a championship final race, with points earned along the way to determine final entries. A High Point Rider Award will once again be presented at the final to the rider who has earned the most points, regardless of horse(s) ridden throughout the series.

Official dates and locations for the series are as follows:

Thursday, July  6 ------ Afton Fair 
Tuesday, July 18------ “Little World’s Fair" in Hemlock
Tuesday, July 25-------Oneida County in Boonville
Monday, July 31------- Schoharie County Fair in Cobleskill
Wednesday, Aug. 2 ------ Tioga County in Owego
Wednesday, Aug.  9 ----- Oswego County in Sandy Creek 
Monday, Aug. 14 ---- Wayne County in Palmyra
Tuesday, Aug. 15 ---- Steuben County in Bath
Tuesday, Aug. 22 ----- Tompkins County in Trumansburg

Friday, Sept. 15—— Fair Final at Saratoga Casino and Hotel

RUS is yet to be self sufficient in the United States particularly because of legislation that prohibits wagering. Hopefully one day that will change. But until then, finding sponsors and ways to fundraise has been the biggest challenge going forward.

The series’ flagship sponsor, The New York Sire Stakes, has generously donated $5,000 as initial purse money. This year, the goal is to have a purse of $750 or more per fair.  Members of RUS New York are working hard and have held several fundraisers with more planned for the future. RUS New York is currently looking for sponsors and donations such as tickets to places and events, gift certificates, gift baskets and other items that can be used to raise money at various fundraising events. A PayPal account has also been set up where people can make secure donations.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit http://www.rus-newyork.com/become-a-sponsor.html. 

Last season the fair series included 12 races at 9 fairs across the state,  a race at Saratoga Casino and Hotel and a final at Batavia Downs.  RUS NY will be coordinating a race (separate from the fair series) scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9. More details will be release closer to the event. 

What is Racing Under Saddle: 

Also known as Monte Racing, RUS, is a hybrid between harness racing and thoroughbred racing. The sport consists of a rider atop a Standardbred (generally a trotter) in a saddle instead of pulling a sulky.  RUS is an exciting part of international standardbred racing and is conducted daily at most european tracks as part of their regular pari-mutuel wagering programs.

The Fair Series is organized by RUS NY, an organization that helps coordinate and promote under saddle races across the state. The main goal is to promote the unique sport,  educate about the versatility of the Standardbred breed as both a racing and a riding horse and to help Standardbreds find great homes after they finish their days on the track.

To keep up on RUS NY happenings follow the group on  Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. 

• Facebook.com/RUSNYSeries
• Twitter.com/RUS_NewYork
• http://rus-newyork.blogspot.com
• Rus-newyork.com

Sponsorship Opportunity Can Get You In The Winning Circle

Special Sponsorship Opportunity

Be a part of the winning experience and sponsor a race by having your logo or business name printed on a cooler. You can present the cooler or we can have someone do it on your behalf. Must have sponsorship form 3 weeks before the date of the race you are interested in sponsoring. See our race schedule for race dates.

For more information, contact Jocelyn Gale at galestables@yahoo.com or (315) 250-7402. 

Price: $300 

$100 discount if you take advantage of our $500 group sponsorship opportunity. 

Our Basic sponsorships:

For as little as $100 you will be provided advertisement on our website. 

For just $200 or more you will get mention in all promotions such as race programs. 

For $500 or more you will be provided everything above as well as a feature spot on our homepage.

(we will link our website promotions to your website or Facebook page if provided)

Visit RUS-newyork.com for more info on racing under saddle and our group RUS NY.

RUS NY Sets Meeting

RUS New York will be hosting a meeting at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 23 at Jocelyn Gale’s home.

Those who plan to participate in RUS NY events are highly encouraged to attend. RUS NY Committee Members will be seeking volunteers for the organization’s first “fun show” on May 21 at Pure Country Campground in New Berlin. Final planning will take place during this meeting along with going over other very important topics such as rules and regulations, race dates and much more. 

Racing will begin before we know it and the goal is to get as much in place for the season as possible. 

Gale resides at 6157 Cooper Street in Vernon N.Y. Those who cannot physically attend are encouraged to contact Michelle Miller at mnmiller84@gmail.com with their email and phone number. We will be inviting people through Google Hangout Video Call so that we can include as many people as possible. If this form of communication does not work for everyone we may be able to figure out an alternative way to get everyone involved (we have a few that use FaceTime) so please contact Miller as soon as possible.

RUS NY Seeks Sponsors & Product

RUS New York highly relies on sponsorship funds to be a success. The organization is reaching out for support before the race season begins so that businesses and individuals get the most out of their buck. 

Where else can one get so much advertisement and promotion for so little money? The answer is  nowhere. 

Instead of separating our sponsors by each race or series, we are maximizing exposure by including all sponsors in all forms of promotion that we do for the season. The earlier you get on board, the more exposure you will receive. 

What you get for your buck:

For as little as $100 you will be provided advertisement on our website. 

For just $200 or more you will get mention in all promotions such as race programs. 

For $500 or more you will be provided everything above as well as a feature spot on our homepage.

(we will link our website promotions to your website or Facebook page if provided)

If interested in sponsoring a specific race and being named on a cooler or having something special done, arrangements can be made. More information on special promotion opportunities will be released soon. The goal is to have a sponsor for each race where the sponsor will be given the opportunity to be a part of the action by providing them with the chance to do a winner circle presentation. 

We realize that it is not always feasible to donate money and we welcome product donations that can be used for prizes or fundraising purposes. RUS NY also has a link, http://www.rus-newyork.com/sponsorship-fundraising.html,  where donations can be made via PayPal. 

Visit http://www.rus-newyork.com/become-a-sponsor.html for more information and to download a sponsorship form. Please feel free to contact RUS NY Sponsorship Director, Jocelyn Gale, at galestables@yahoo.com or (315) 250-7402 with any questions and to discuss what we can do for you. We are willing to promote events, sales and other happenings and news for our sponsors. The goal is to reach as many people as we can. 

RUS NY was formed in early 2014 in response to the growing interest in the unique sport of racing under saddle. RUS, also known as Monté racing internationally, is a hybrid between harness racing and thoroughbred racing. The non-profit organization was created to help organize and promote under saddle races for Standardbreds across the state of New York including fairs. Our group promotes the Standardbred breed as a riding and sport horse, beyond just the sport of racing. One of our goals is to show people how versatile the horses are and hope that will help rehome them once their racing careers are done.  Visit our website at rus-newyork.com and be sure to follow us on social media (see links below).

Facebook: facebook.com/RUSNYSeries

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RUS_NewYork