Goal is to raise
more than $1,000 during races on Saturday, August 17
VERNON, NY – Vernon Downs and local horsemen are
teaming up to race against hunger.
During the live harness races on Saturday night, at least 10
horsemen will donate portions of their driving fees to the Food Bank of Central
New York.
The event follows another fundraiser in June when Vernon
Downs raised more than $65,000 for the Food Bank of Central New York through
proceeds from a Gretchen Wilson concert.
The Food Bank will also have a table set up at the racetrack
to collect additional donations from guests.
The goal is to raise at least $1,000.
“I’ve been thinking about doing something like this for a
few weeks,” said John Prescott, a Vernon Downs horseman and Chaplin with the
Christian Harness Horsemen’s Association. “I wanted to get the drivers to
contribute back to the community in a positive way. Mr. Gural has donated
generously to the Food Bank so I thought it’d be great if we all could get
together and do something good.”
Prescott hopes to make fundraisers like this one an annual
tradition as a way for horsemen to give back to the community in which they
live.
Live racing at Vernon Downs takes place Thursday, Friday and
Saturday this week. Races begin at 6:45 p.m. all three nights.
