Nichols, NY (WBNG Binghamton) Most horse racing fans know the Kentucky Derby is the first race in thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown.
But did you know that the opening leg of harness racing's Triple Crown takes place right in our own backyard at Tioga Downs?
The 58th Cane Pace will be raced Labor Day Monday afternoon in Nichols for the first time ever featuring nine of the sport's fastest 3-year-olds.
One of those is New York champion Heston Blue Chip.
He's a perfect 7-for-7 at Tioga Downs and has earned more than $800,000 for his owner Ken Jacobs, who's from Baldwinsville.
Heston Blue Chip's main rival will be A Rocknroll Dance, the top-rated 3-year-old in the country.
He already beat Heston Blue Chip at the Meadowlands in New Jersey back in July.
This time, the rematch will be on Heston Blue Chip's home turf.
"Well it's definitely going to be a race. It's going to come down to post position. I'd love to be able to follow him around there and give him a run late or you know, have him chasing me. I take nothing away from Yannick's horse, A Rocknroll Dance. He's a great horse but he's going to have to beat my horse," says Tim Tetrick, driver of Heston Blue Chip.
"He loves this track. He knows this track. It's really good and it's almost my hometown track because I'm here so often so it's a pretty nice feeling," says owner Ken Jacobs.
The post positions will be randomly selected Friday morning and the big race will be Monday afternoon.
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