Driver Leon Bailey capped off a great season by driving seven winners at Vernon Downs on Saturday, Nov. 16, the track's final card of the 2024 season.

Bailey started the night getting a win in the first race with Rally Your Crew.  Then starting in race six he reeled off five wins in a row.  He won race six with Monis Heaven Cent, and followed that up with victories aboard Keg Party, Warrawee Unique, City Of Hope, and War Of Will. Appropriately, he ended the night winning the last race of the season with Dry Ridge Cutie.

“Lightning” Leon Bailey captured his third win dash title at Vernon with a career-best 166 wins and was named the track's driver of the year.  John MacDonald finished second with 111 tallies.  Jimmy Whittemore (60), Steeven Genois (60), and Frank Affrunti (41) rounded out the top five.

Trainer Jessica Okusko landed her second dash title at Vernon Downs with 46 victories to capture the trainer of the year title.  Jeff Sorenson finished second with 42 wins, followed by Claude Huckabone III (39), Gary Gibson (31), and Leopold Sawyers (29).

Rock Solid Express garnered Vernon Downs' pacer of the year honours.  The four-year-old Huntsville horse, trained by Jessica Okusko for owners James DeArmond and David Towne, won eight times in 18 starts at Vernon Downs this season.

The trotter of the year title at Vernon Downs went to Woodside Gabe.  The four-year-old Dover Dan gelding, trained by Amanda Bailey for owners David Faile and Joe Facin Jr., won six times in 13 starts this season at Vernon including four scores in the Open Trot.

On the track, the feature was the $11,972 Open Pace. Pirate Hanover and driver Aaron Byron seized the lion's share of the loot, pouncing from second over to swoop past his four rivals for the 1:53 score over Primo Uomo (Bailey) and Shipsaway (John MacDonald).

Pirate Hanover is a six-year-old horse by Captaintreacherous, owned and trained by Byron.  The win was his 10th of the season and 19th of his career.

Vernon Downs wants to thank the horsepeople, employees, and fans for a very successful 2024 meet.  Harness racing returns in April 2025.

(with files from Vernon Downs)