Vernon Downs is gearing up for its opening weekend, which kicks off with a 10-race card Friday, April 16. The action will get underway at 6:55 p.m.
Opening night will start off with a race date t-shirt giveaway (while supplies last), followed by a fireworks display immediately following live racing.
Friday's featured event will see six lasses square off in the Fillies and Mares Miracle Mile Class A Handicap, the ninth event of the evening. Bet The Ranch, from the powerful Jessica Okusko stable, will look to pick up where she left off last year. The daughter of Bettors Delight--Silksandiamonds won 11 of 24 starts in 2009 and earned more than $90,000 in her four-year-old season.
On Saturday, April 17, Vernon will host a 12-race program which will begin at 6:55 p.m. The track will be giving out race-date magnets to its patrons (while supplies last), and will also be running the 'Change Your Luck' promotion in which contestants drop losing tickets into a barrel for their chance to win a $20 betting voucher. A seven-horse Miracle Mile Class A for pacers will be the card's feature. 2009 Vernon Downs leading trainer Jessica Okusko will send out another powerful entrant in Diamond Stick Pin. The four-year-old son of Bettors Delight--Silksandiamonds -- who is a full brother to Bet The Ranch -- won six races last year and earned more than $166,000.
Vernon Downs will once again be hosting its 'Horse Play Car Giveaway' in 2010, in which contestants donate $1 to the charity of the month and receive a rubber horse. After the designated race of the night, contestants get a chance to toss their horse in the window of a 2009 Nissan Versa, one horse that successfully makes it into the window will be drawn and put into the final drawing for the 2009 Nissan Versa on Friday, September 17 during the 'Summer Showdown' weekend at Vernon Downs.
Qualifiers At Tioga Downs
Tioga Downs would like to remind all horsemen that it is hosting qualifiers on Friday, April 16 at 11:00 a.m. The entry box closes on Thursday, April 15 at 10:00 a.m. Qualifying entries can be called into the race office at 607-699-7688.
Tioga will also be hosting qualifiers on Friday, April 23, a special qualifying 'Press Night' on Tuesday, April 27 at 6:50 p.m., and the final qualifiers on Friday, April 30 before live racing begins on Saturday, May 1.
(With files from Tioga/Vernon)