Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Opening weekend cards drawn at Vernon Downs

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - by Dustin Ross, regional racing operations manager, Tioga/Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY --- Vernon Downs is gearing up for opening weekend, which begins on Friday, April 16, with a 6:55 p.m. post time featuring ten live races. Opening night will kick-off with a race date t-shirt giveaway (while supplies last), followed by a fireworks display immediately following live racing.

In the featured event on Friday night six of the best pacing mares will square off in the Fillies and Mares Miracle Mile Class A Handicap in 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 Bettor's Delight-Silksndiamonds won 11 of 24 starts in 2009 and earned more than $90,000.

On Saturday, April 17, Vernon hosts a 12-race program beginning at 6:55 p.m. and will be giving out Race Date Magnets to its patrons (while supplies last). Vernon will also have the “Change Your Luck” promotion in which contestants drop losing tickets into a barrel for their chance to win a $20 betting voucher.

Featured on the card is the Miracle Mile Class A for pacers with a field of seven. Jessica Okusko sends out another powerful entrant in Diamond Stick Pin. The 4-year old, who is a full brother to Bet The Ranch, won six races last year and earned more than $166,000. Diamond Stick Pin qualified on Tuesday morning with a mile of 1:53.2, pacing a final panel of :27 for Howard Okusko, Jr.

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 into 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 Versa on Friday, September 17, during the “Summer Showdown” weekend at Vernon Downs. The 2010 “Horseplay Car Giveaway” is courtesy of Williams Toyota of Sayre, Pa.

For more information visit www.vernondowns.com

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