Chris Thater Races Head Downtown

The Chris Thater Memorial Races are coming to downtown Binghamton.  After close to 25 years in and around Recreation Park and the West Side of Binghamton the races are shifting back to the downtown area.  This year's races will be held Saturday, August 23rd and Sunday, August 24th.  They return downtown for the first time since 1989.

Plans are for the event to move to a "twilight" format which will feature the National Criterium Calendar and USA Crits Series Pro Men's and Women's Cycling Races on Saturday evening along with the 5k event.  Racing gets underway Saturday morning with various cycling events.  At 6:00 PM the Pro Women's race will be held and the Men's Pro race will follow at 8 PM.  Also on Saturday evening the Chris Thater Memorial 5k race will be held which will feature runners competing for over $5,000 in cash and prizes.

An Outdoor Expo will be held on Court Street between State and Water Streets throughout the event as well.  The event is free to the public.

The annual event is in honor of the late Christopher Thater who was a 23 year-old cyclist who was killed by a drunk driver in Broome County on October 16, 1983.  In 1984 the Broome County STOP-DWI Program started the annual bicycle race in honor of Chris and to elevate public awareness of drunk driving and substance abuse issues.  This year is the 31st year of the Chris Thater Memorial.