Can you imagine heading to the races on Labour Day and winning a Volkswagon Jetta? Well, that is what is exactly going to happen to one lucky racegoer this coming Monday (September 7).

One lucky fan will leave Vernon Downs this Labour Day as the owner of a new Jetta! The regular racing season culminates on Monday with the selection of a winner of the Horseplay Car Giveaway. A special afternoon of racing begins on Labour Day at 1:15 p.m. During the first half, fans will have one final chance to qualify for a chance to win a 2015 Volkswagen Jetta S Reflex.

For a $1 donation, fans 18 and older can get a mini brown rubber horse and attempt to throw the horse into the window of the Jetta as it drives along the track fence. One lucky contestant whose horse gets picked out of the car will receive a $100 betting voucher and an entry into the grand prize drawing to win the car.

During the second half of the race card, all of the approximately 60 entries will be placed in a barrel. Each name will be pulled and read one at a time until the final name is called and declared as the winner.

Vernon Downs matches all the proceeds from this season-long promotion and donates them to area charities. Nearly $10,000 is raised each year during this popular promotion.

Meanwhile, on the track, the state’s top two-year-old pacers will compete in the prestigious New York Sire Stakes.

Racing at Vernon Downs continues throughout the fall. Special Wednesday night races will begin on September 9 and continue through the end of October with a 6:45 p.m. first-race post time.

“Even though summer is coming to an end, our fans can still enjoy another couple of months of live racing,” said owner Jeff Gural, who added that every Wednesday will also be Dollar Night. Fans can enjoy $1 draft beer, sodas, hot dogs, popcorn and live racing programs.

(With files from Vernon)