Vernon Downs Horseracing

Vernon Downs is a horse track in Vernon, New York that features harness racing. Located approximately 30 miles east of Syracuse and 12 miles west of Utica, the track is found in a picturesque, rural setting in the geographic center of upstate New York.

Vernon Downs began racing operations on July 1, 1953. Its prominent reputation in the harness racing industry has been painstakingly built on quality, competitive racing and fast miles. The legendary pacer Adios Harry christened Vernon Downs as "The Home of the Miracle Mile" with his 1:55 world record performance in July of 1955, a racing standard that stood for 18 years.

For more than 50 years, many of harness racing's brightest stars, equine as well as human, competed in Vernon Downs' unique three-quarter mile track. However since July 1, 2000, horses have been racing over a modern 7/8ths-mile oval.

Vernon Downs Track Records - Pacers

Division	Horse	Driver	Time	Year
All-Age / Older Horse	Fireyourguns JK Panache	Levin Bailey Frank Davis	1:47.3	2015 2015
3-Year-Old Colt	Shake That House	Brian Sears	1:47.4	2019
3-Year-Old Filly	Stepabovetherest Tarrific	Braxten Boyd Jason Bartlett	1:49.4	2024 2024
3-Year-Old Gelding	Splash Brother	Tyler Buter	1:49.0	2020
2-Year-Old Colt	Travel Playlist	Marcus Miller	1:49.2	2015
2-Year-Old Filly	Vivians Dream	Jordan Stratton	1:50.4	2022

Vernon Downs Track Records - Trotters

Division	Horse	Driver	Time	Year
All-Age / 4-Year-Old Gelding	Intimidate	Ron Pierce	1:51.0	2013
Aged Horse	San Pail	Randy Waples	1:51.1	2011
4-Year-Old Mare	Hannelore Hanover	Yannick Gingras	1:51.3	2016
Aged Mare	Maven	Yannick Gingras	1:52.0	2014
2-Year-Old Colt	Crazy Wow Keep Asking	Dan Rawlings Scott Zeron	1:54.0	2014 2023
2-Year-Old Filly	Atlanta	Mark Macdonald	1:54.0	2017

Vernon Downs Facts

• Width of Stretches: 100 feet
• Homestretch Length: 900 feet
• Speed Rating: v1:58
• Standing Start Positions: 10
• Clubhouse Seating Capacity: 1,500
• Grandstand Seating Capacity: 3,500

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