Marks ties Vernon track record

Friday, May 21, 2010 - by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY --- Driver Josh Marks tied a record for most wins on a single Vernon Downs program with seven scores on Thursday night (May 20), including a 1:53.3 victory with Arbeedo in the $8,100 featured sixth race.

Driver Jim Morrill, Jr. established Vernon’s all-time single program record in 2008.

Fotowon photo

Arbeedo was one of seven winners on the Thursday Vernon program for driver Josh Marks.

Starting out fifth in her Downs debut, Arbeedo was given an overland journey by the 27-year-old reinsman. She closed from second in the final quarter to earn a head triumph in the evening’s top Miracle Mile test for female pacers.

It was the sixth career score for the 4-year-old daughter of Artsplace-Shoobeedobeedo, who is owned by trainer Tracy Brainard and Andrew Herzog.

Marks began his victory binge behind the trotter Neon Dream (1:59) in Thursday’s first race. He won the third race with the trotter Study Hall (1:59.3), the fifth with the trotter Frosty Flirt (1:56.3), the seventh with the pacer Pounne De Luxe (1:53.4), the eighth with the trotter Justice Wyoming (1:58.3) -- equaling his current previous single program high here -- and the last with the pacer Honey’s Luck (1:54.3).

Marks, the track’s top dash-winning driver in 2008 with 114 first-place finishes, raised his current victory total to 33 after 12 current programs.

Leading conditioner Brainard, who chalked up a single season record 101 training victories here in 2008, has 15 wins through May 20.

Simpson Stakes produce outstanding efforts at Vernon

Saturday, May 15, 2010 - by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY --- Whata Winner tied the season’s trotting standard, while Jesse’s Messenger remained undefeated after nine career starts in separate divisions of the $104,763 John F. Simpson Memorial Stake for 3-year-old trotters at Vernon Downs on Saturday night.

Vernon photo

Whata Winner sparkled for driver-trainer Jimmy Doherty in his division of the John Simpson, Sr. Stakes on Saturday

Leaving from the second tier in the only colt division, Whata Winner waltzed home from third in the final furlong to capture the $53,575 fourth race (The Ayres) in 1:55, equaling Sharpshootennorris’ current standard for practitioner of the diagonal gait, set on April 23.

Trainer Jim Doherty drove for his ownership partners Thomas Dillon and Terrax, Inc. as the gelded son of Credit Winner-Whata Chippie earned his third victory in four season’s starts and lowered his lifetime speed-mark by 2-2/5ths seconds. The time also set a new track record for sophomore trotting geldings. Jacob’s Winner established the previous best mark of 1:56.1 in 2007.

The highly regarded Jesse’s Messenger notched her season’s debut in the win column following a 1:55.4 performance in Saturday’s $25, 844 first flight of The Elma. The smooth-striding daughter of Jailhouse Jesse--Laser Messenger drew off from her six rivals in the third race and was well in hand at the finish. Mike Simons drove for trainer Kent Sherman and owner Daryl Sherman as the all-time winner of $134,639 earned a personal-best speed badge.

The $25,344 second division of The Elma went to Impressive Kemp, who powered through the stretch to defeat the pacesetting Muni’s Blue Chip by a head, in 1:57.4. Michael Vanderkemp did the steering for trainer Noel Daley as the quick-footed 3-year-old daughter of Credit Winner--Emilie Cas El scored in her season’s debut and secured her second career victory for owner John Edward Cloutier.

The 1:52 clocking on Saturday by Tuffofthetoughest was just four-fifths seconds off the Vernon all-time record for older pacing horses, set by Goin To The Beach in 2002. The veteran pacer J T Arturo picked up his 64th lifetime victory with a 1:53.1 effort for Marks in Saturday’s final event

Chris Lems and Josh Marks recorded driving doubles during Saturday’s 11-race card.

Vernon Downs plans Harness Racing Youth League camp

By ANNE DELANEY

Observer-Dispatch

Posted May 11, 2010 @ 08:56 PM

VERNON —

And down the stretch they come.

For a few days in July at Vernon Downs, there will be some younger drivers on the harness racing track.

The annual Harness Racing Youth League camp, which will take place Tuesday through Saturday, July 6 to 10, is being organized by the Harness Horse Youth Foundation.

The camp will give participants ages 12 to 14 an up-close and personal look at harness racing and caring for horses.

“The original purpose was to create more of an interest in harness racing, but I enjoy watching the kids develop confidence through the week,” Westfield, Ind.-based Harness Horse Youth Foundation Executive Director Ellen Taylor said. “There is no substitute for kids and horses.”

The five-day, four-night camp costs $150 and an application and essay must be submitted. No experience with harness racing or horses is required. The registration fee covers all lodging and meals for the camp.
Daily activities will expose the campers to the ins and outs of the sport, including grooming, harnessing, hitching and driving the horses.

“They love to be able to clean the hooves from the get-go,” Taylor said. “The kids are surprised that they are able to do it.”

Registration will be at 8:30 a.m. July 6 in the lobby of Vernon Downs’ hotel. The camp will end with races July 10.

For more information or for an application, call the Harness Horse Youth Foundation at 317-867-5877 or visit the organization’s website at www.hhyf.org.

Camp information also is available by contacting Jason Settlemoir, regional vice president of racing and simulcast for Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs, via e-mail at jsettlemoir@tiogadowns.com.

Popular Vernon Downs horseman passes

Well-known Vernon Downs horseman William L. Arthurs of Verona passed away last Friday evening (May 7) in St. Luke's Hospital Memorial Hospital in Utica. The likeable 72-year-old had a love of harness racing.

Born on January 24, 1938 in Aiken, SC, Bill was a son of the late William T. and Mary Elizabeth (Reese) Arthurs. He was educated in South Carolina's Gloverville school system.

Prior to his retirement due to health problems, Bill was a well-respected trainer and driver of Standardbred horses at Vernon Downs, Roosevelt Raceway, Saratoga Raceway, Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs in New York, and at Pompano Park in Florida.

He thoroughly enjoyed his harness racing career and had great respect for the sport's history. He is credited with having developed many prominent trotters and pacers.

Bill was a member of the William Russell American Legion Post in Vernon and the United States Trotting Association.

Bill is survived by his companion Jill Johnson; his children Vicki Temperato, Mary Beth Arthurs, Monica (Harold) Hulett, Pam (Mark) Dalton and William L. Arthurs, Jr.; sisters Nancy (deceased Billy) Koon and Susie (Lance) Barfield; brother Steven Arthurs; aunt Ola Young; brother-in-law Ted Parker, as well as many grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Brothers Buddy, Bobby and Richard Arthurs, sisters Debra Arthurs and Maggie Parker, and grandson Matthew Morelli predeceased him.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Malecki Funeral Home, Inc., 23 Front Street in Vernon from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14. A time of prayer will be offered at the funeral home following Wednesday's calling hours.

Jim MORAN

Upstate New York Hall of Fame announced

In an effort to immortalize the many great trainers, drivers and racing visionaries that have contributed to the success and longevity of the four major harness racing tracks in Upstate New York, the UNY Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association has announced the formation of a permanent, physical hall where each year's selected class will be enshrined.

The Hall of Fame will be housed at Tioga Downs in Nichols, NY. There will also be a Hall of Fame page on our website where bios and pictures will be available. Best of all, you can have a say on who gets inducted!

Every year beginning with 2010, there will be three people inducted from each of the four tracks. Two will be living and one will be deceased. Anyone who has ever participated in the sport at any time at Vernon Downs, Batavia Downs, Buffalo Raceway, or Tioga Downs will be considered eligible for enshrinement.

Candidates for the Hall will be nominated in two ways; the members of UNY-USHWA will name two people and racing fans from all four tracks will vote for one more. Voting by the fans will take place online through a link at www.upstatenyushwa.com. The link is located at the top of our homepage.

There will be a total of twelve individuals enshrined each year, three from each of the four tracks. These twelve people will be honored during two separate induction ceremonies. First, the inductees will be feted at the home track for which they were selected. Then, all twelve will be officially inducted at a dinner honoring them at Vernon Downs to be held in conjunction with the USTA District 7 meetings.

Finally, everyone voting for their favorites for the hall will be entered into a random drawing for 2 tickets to attend the dinner and enshrinement ceremony at Vernon Downs later this year.

Voting deadline for each track is as follows:

Buffalo Raceway-June 30

Tioga Downs-July 30

Batavia Downs-August 30

Vernon Downs-August 30

For more information and the voting link, log onto www.upstatenyushwa.com.