Vernon Downs is set to begin their 68th year of racing on Saturday (April 17).
Vernon Downs will feature The
Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) with separate races for both 3-year-old filly
trotters and 3-year-old trotting colts on Friday (June 18). Vernon
Downs is also proud to once again play host to the Zweig Memorial races
featuring the 3-year-old Open Trot and the 3-year-old Fillies Trot on Saturday
(August 28). On Saturday (September 11) Vernon will present the New York
State Excelsior Finals for 2 and 3-year-old filly and colt trotters and pacers.
In 2020 Leon Bailey was
the top driver. He will get to tangle with former driving champions John
MacDonald and Jimmy Whittemore. These three and other great drivers
should make it exciting as they all vie for the 2021 title.
Kerin Warner took top
trainer honors at the Miracle Mile in 2020. Former training champion
Marissa Chadbourne returns along with other top contenders like Claude
Huckabone III and new comer Brandi Wine.
Live racing will be
continuing through closing night (November 6). Post time will
be 6:10 pm every night with the exception of Derby Day (May 1) which will start
at 4:30 pm.
The Miracle Mile will
also offer four new awards for 2021. We will honor our top
driver of the week with the Winning Wheels driver of the week. The
best trainer of the week will also be recognized as the Black Stallion trainer
of the week. We will also have an award for grooms. It is
called the Bourbon Express groom of the week. We have also added a
monthly award called the Golden Gro longshot of the month. This will
go to the horse with the largest $2.00 payoff of the month.
On opening day there will
be no fans. However, starting on Friday (April 23) Vernon Downs fans will
be permitted. More details next week.
Post time for the 12-race
card is 6:10 pm.
For more information go
to www.vernondowns.com
