Vernon Downs history in brief
The first race at Vernon Downs, on July 1, 1953, went to Bob Abbe II, who paid $38.60 on a $2 ticket. The track opened as a six-furlong oval, and in 1955 Adios Harry paced a mile in 1:55 here, a world record that stood for 18 years. Niatross and Moni Maker later raced over the same ground.
Hard times followed the boom years of harness racing. The track faced closure in 2002 over tax debts, gained video gaming under the state’s racetrack law, and passed to Jeff Gural out of bankruptcy in 2006. A legislative stalemate closed it for three days in February 2008, and a 2017 tax change ended another threat to its season.
The 2026 Vernon Downs racing schedule
The 73rd season opened on April 18 after a morning of qualifying races the week before. Regular cards run on Friday and Saturday evenings with first post at 5:05 p.m., from April into November. Track admission is free, and anyone 18 or older can wager on the live races or join the giveaways that fill most race nights.
| Date (2026) | Race | Purse |
|---|---|---|
| June 12 | Empire Breeders Classic (3-year-old trotters) | $500,000 |
| July 19 (Sunday night) | Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial | $600,000 |
| October 2 | Big Apple eliminations (New York-bred freshmen) | — |
| October 9 | Big Apple finals, trotters and pacers | $250,000 each |
The Zweig Memorial brings Vernon Downs national attention. It draws leading three-year-old trotters on the Grand Circuit as a final prep before the $1 million Hambletonian at the Meadowlands in early August. Eight New York Sire Stakes cards for state-bred horses fill out the season, and our horse racing schedule compares these dates with other tracks.
Leon Bailey topped the drivers’ table for a second straight year in 2025 with 112 wins, and Michelle Warner was the leading trainer. On nights without live racing, the simulcast room just off the hotel lobby shows thoroughbred and harness signals on three large screens, and the Miracle Mile Restaurant takes bets at the table during the live season.
The Vernon Downs casino floor
Gaming here is limited to video gaming machines, roughly 500 of them according to the state gaming commission’s September 2026 report, a mix of reel-style games and video poker. They run on the New York Lottery’s central system, the setup our video lottery terminals guide explains. There are no live dealers, poker tables or sportsbook in this casino.
The Vernon Downs casino opens at 9 a.m. every day and closes at midnight from Sunday to Thursday and at 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The minimum age is 18, which matches the other lottery-licensed racinos in the state. Ring Eyed Pete’s stage hosts bands and special events, and a rewards club tracks play for promotions and drawings.
Staying at the Vernon Downs hotel
The Vernon Downs hotel offers only suites, many with a view over the racetrack, and the whole building is smoke-free. An indoor heated pool and whirlpool are open daily, with an adults-only hour in the evening. A continental breakfast is served on weekdays, while weekend guests order from the menu at Mr. G’s.
Families get a few extras during the live season, including a bounce house at the track and free meals for children under five in the restaurants. Meeting rooms, free Wi-Fi and a business computer suit small groups. Anyone planning a longer racing trip can combine a stay here with Saratoga Casino Hotel, which races almost year-round.
Getting to Vernon and other nearby racinos
Vernon lies in Oneida County, roughly halfway between Utica and Syracuse, and the track entrance is on Stuhlman Road in the hamlet of Vernon Center. Drivers from Syracuse or Utica use the Thruway and local roads. The Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone resort is a short drive away in Verona, for visitors who want dealer table games.
Sister track Tioga Downs sits about two hours south in Nichols and races from May to September, so the two meets overlap through the summer. For the full statewide picture, including thoroughbred racing at Finger Lakes, see our New York racinos guide, which lists each track with its racing breed and gaming type.