Vernon: Live racing gets underway Friday
Vernon Downs is set to begin their 65th year of racing on Friday (April 20) with a new post time of 6:10 pm.
Highlights for the season include “Derby Day” featuring the live showing of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday (May 5) with a special post time of 4:30 pm. Memorial Day (May 28) features The Empire Classic Finals for both 3-year-old filly trotters and 3-year-old trotting colts. Each Final is racing for a purse of $250,000 est. with a post time of 1:05 pm. The Zweig Memorial races will take place on Friday (August 17) featuring the Zweig 3-year-old Colt Trot ($370,000 est.) and 3-year-old Fillies Trot ($150,000 est.).
John MacDonald will attempt to defend driving and training titles he won in 2017.
MacDonald was top driver in 2017 with 185 wins on the season and top trainer with 57 wins on the year. He was also the owner and trainer of Oh My Joepa, who won horse of the year honors with nine wins.
The 11 race card for Friday will feature Leg one of the Robert E. Keller Trotting Series.
For more information go to www.vernondowms.com
-edited release (John Horne for Vernon Downs)