VERNON -- Vernon Downs is gearing up for opening weekend, which begins on Friday, April 16^th with a 6:55 pm post time featuring ten live races. Opening night will kickoff with a race date t-shirt giveaway (while supplies last), followed by a fireworks display immediately following live racing.

In the featured event on Friday night six of the best pacing mares will square off in the Fillies and Mares Miracle Mile Class A Handicap in the ninth event of the evening. Bet The Ranch, from the powerful Jessica Okusko stable will look to pick up where she left off last year as the daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Silksandiamonds won eleven of twenty four starts in 2009 and earned more than $90,000 in her four year old season.

On Saturday, April 17^th Vernon hosts a twelve race program beginning at 6:55 pm, and will be giving out Race Date Magnets to its patrons (while supplies last), and will also be have the “Change Your Luck” promotion in which contestants drop losing tickets into a barrel for their chance to win a $20 betting voucher. Featured on the twelve race card is the Miracle Mile Class A for pacers with a field of seven. Jessica Okusko sends out another powerful entrant from the 2009 Vernon Downs’ leading trainer’s barn in Diamond Stick Pin. The 4-year old son of Bettor’s Delight-Silksandiamonds, who is a full brother to Bet The Ranch, won six races last year and earned more than $166,000 in 2009. Diamond Stick Pin qualified on Tuesday morning with a mile of 1:53.2, pacing a final panel of 27, for Howard Okusko Jr.

Vernon Downs will once again be hosting its “Horse Play Car Giveaway” in 2010, in which contestants donate $1 to the charity of the month and receive a rubber horse. After the designated race of the night contestants get a chance to toss their horse in the window of a 2009 Nissan Versa, one horse that successfully makes it into the window will be drawn and put into the final drawing for the 2009 Nissan Versa on Friday, September 17^th during the “Summer Showdown” weekend at Vernon Downs. The 2010 “Horseplay Car Giveaway” is courtesy of Williams Toyota of Sayre, Pa.

For more information visit www.vernondowns.com or call 877-88-VERNON.

Courtesy: Vernon Downs