Page 35 - Vernon Downs News Today

The richest race of the season at Saratoga Casino Hotel yielded a track record performance on Tuesday (July 20). There was one division of the New York Sire Stakes for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Tuesday and the $156,600 race saw the favourite not only thrive but make history. Ahundreddollarbill (Chapter Seven-Swinging Royalty) drew post seven in the eight-horse stakes event but driver Andrew McCarthy wasted very little time moving the 1-5 betting favourite out to the front end...

Leading driver Leon Bailey is having a season of which even his late grandfather, Vernon legend, Jack “The Ripper” Bailey, would be proud. Leon added five more wins at Vernon Downs on Saturday (July 10). Coming into the season the most wins Bailey got in a season was 53. With his five wins on Saturday, he now has 54 in 2021. That is in less than half a season. He registered his wins with Cool Jack ($11.00), Discus Hanover ($9.90), Hotfoot Hannah ($10.20), Bruces Magic ($9.60), and Syracuse ...

Grand Spa ($8.90) was a gate-to-wire winner in the $33,600 first division for Zeron. Grand Spa went to the front and led to the first quarter in :28.1. He used a :30.1 second quarter to hit the half in :58.2. Jackson Steinem (Brian Sears) came first-over and challenged for the lead as they went around the final turn. Grand Spa hit three-quarters first in 1:28.3. As they made the turn for home Grand Spa shook off the challenge of Jackson Steinam. Second place finisher Chapheart made a lat...

Chatelroll (Frank Affrunti) catapulted to an easy win in the $7,000 Open Pace at Vernon Downs on Saturday (July 3). Dreams Beachboy went straight to the front and led to the first quarter in :26.3. He used a :27.3 second quarter to lead to the half in :54.1. He continued the blistering pace with a :27.0 third quarter. He was first to three-quarters in 1:21.1. Chatelroll ($2.60) was last at the half and moved up to fourth at three-quarters. As they made the turn for home, he looked like he was ...

Winning Legends held on to win the $7,000 Open Trot. Winning Legends went to the front and was confronted right away by Jenny Lake as they headed for the first turn. Winning Legends was first to the first quarter in :26.4. Jenny Lake had to back off and follow in the pocket. Winning Legends was first to the half in :56.3. He remained in control leading to three-quarters in 1:26.4. As they made the turn for home Jenny Lake popped out of the pocket and American JJ went three-wide. Winning Lege...

A two-year-old pacer stole the show on Tuesday afternoon (June 22) at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Trainer-driver Dan Daley brought just one horse to the Spa to compete after securing two wins and two seconds with his young horses on Monday’s matinee. Daley’s Blue Collar Man (Bolt The Duer-Celebrate America-Allamerican Native) made his debut on Tuesday following an impressive qualifier at Vernon Downs, in which he won by better than nine lengths in a mile paced in 1:56.1. The freshman was co-favo...

Four divisions of the New York Sires Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings went postward Friday evening at Vernon Downs, and it turned out to be a big night for sons of Chapter Seven. That sire produced three of the divisional winners on the card including Ahundreddollarbill, who rolled to a 1:52.2 triumph in his $56,000 assignment. Andrew McCarthy parked through an opening quarter of :27.2 before finding the lead with the Tony Alagna trainee. Once in charge, the youngster sail...

Proposed legislation would help support Vernon Downs Casino operating costs New legislation that will help Vernon Downs Casino with operating costs is on its way to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for signature. Posted: Jun 3, 2021 11:02 AM Posted By: WKTV VERNON, N.Y. – New legislation that will help Vernon Downs Casino with operating costs is on its way to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for signature. The New York State Senate and Assembly passed the bill Wednesday, which extends certain provisions of the tax law f...

American Racing-Vernon Downs management, after consultation with the Harness Horse Association of Central New York, has revised its plan of operation for the June racing schedule previously announced. There will be no racing on Thursdays in June due to the fact the revenue stream from VGM’s are down currently more than 30 percent. The COVID-19 restrictions are still wreaking havoc on live racing and there is a shortage of horses across the state. We will continue to monitor the situation and ...

Longtime horseman Howard Okusko Sr., who not only was part of the construction team that built Vernon Downs in the early 1950s but also trained his stable of horses at the New York harness racetrack since it opened in 1954, passed away Thursday afternoon, May 20, in St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica, N.Y. after a brief illness. He was 86. Mr. Okusko was born in Utica, N.Y. on Jan. 9, 1935. He attended St. Francis De Sales School and resided in the area his entire life. “My dad never left ...