ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y. -- The 59th season of harness racing is underway at Vernon Downs. The track opened Friday night with ten races and about 3,500 people to take it all in.

This year's schedule includes 90 days of races and some big time entertainment in the form of a Bruce Springsteen concert at the end of August.

Opening day included a t-shirt giveaway and a fireworks display.

Track operators say after a long winter, the first night is always nerve wracking.

"When you have a break like we do, you know we haven't been racing here since November, so you've got to get everything geared up again and everybody looking towards racing. So it's always exciting to have a beginning and an end. But at the same time, you have to reopen the facility in a little bit of angst, you know, but it's always nice to get the racing season kicked off," said Jason Settlemoir, Vice President of Racing.

And they aren't wasting any time. Ten races are scheduled for Saturday at the track.