Racing Promotions
Welcome to the 2026 Race Season.
All promotions pending regulatory approval.


Welcome to the 2026 Race Season.
All promotions pending regulatory approval.

Fridays in October, Post Time 5:05pm
Enter for your chance to win a $100 Price Chopper Gift Card
One winner chosen after Race 3 & 7
Must be 18 or older with a Vernon Rewards card to participate.
Grocery Gift Card Giveaway October 2026 Promotion Date & Time: Friday, October 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30
Registration for participation begins at 4 PM.
Drawings after Races 3 and 7.
Entries accepted until drawings conclude.
Participation Method:
Guests 18 years and older that are members of the Vernon Rewards Club will be permitted to participate once per promotional day, free of charge. Members must check in at the promotions desk (at the track) to be entered into the drawing. Upon checking in, an entry ticket will be printed from CMP (players tracking system). The ticket stub with the guest’s name and account number will be placed into a drawing drum for that day’s drawings and the guest will receive the other end of the ticket as verification it was printed and entered into the drawing.
Promotion Details:
On the listed Fridays following Races 3 and 7 there will be one (1) winner selected after each race to win a $100 Price Chopper Gift Card
Winners will be drawn out of a drum immediately at the conclusion of the selected races. Once announced, the winner for that drawing will be given five (5) minutes to report to the promotions desk where they will be verified upon providing proper identification. Once the winner is verified, they will complete all necessary promotional paperwork. Should any winner not respond when called for Race 3, the gift card for that drawing will be added to the drawing following Race 7 so both Gift Cards, available for that day, are given away. Should any winner not respond following Race 7, another name will be drawn until both cards are given away.
Announcement of Winners/Prize Claim:
Once the winner has been announced, they will have five (5) minutes to report to the promotions desk to be verified. An acceptable form of valid ID, Vernon Rewards card, and completion of necessary winner’s paperwork is required to claim any prize. If any winner fails to report within the five-minute timeframe or they cannot or refuse to provide valid identification, they will not receive the prize. Guests may only be drawn to win once per day during this promotion.
GENERAL PROMOTION RULES

Fridays during live racing.
$1 Popcorn or 10oz Fountain Soda, $2 Hot Dog, $3 Draft Beer (16oz)*
*Must be 21 or older. Valid ID.

Saturdays in October
Test your racing knowledge, or luck, by going against our announcer, John Horne in a handicapping contest every Saturday!
Register to receive your entry form at the track promotions desk each Friday starting at 4pm.
1st Place – $75 Race Wagering Voucher
2nd place – $50 Race Wagering Voucher
3rd Place- $25 Race Wagering Voucher
Win John Horne’s Money October 2026 Promotion Date & Time: Saturday October 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 Register for participation beginning at 4pm. Entries are accepted until immediately prior to the first race listed in the contest. Participation Method: Guests 18 years and older that are members of the Vernon Rewards Club will be permitted to participate once per promotional day, free of charge. Members must check in at the promotions desk (at the track) to receive their contest entry form. Promotion Details: On each promotional day, there will be five specific races from that day listed on the contest entry form. The guests participating will select a winning horse for each of the five races listed. Once the guest has completed their contest entry form it must be turned into the promotions desk prior to the start of the first race listed on the form to be valid. When each contest entry form is handed in, it must have the participating guest’s name and Vernon Rewards account number listed. Any contest entry forms received after the start of the first contest race will be deemed invalid and they will not be eligible for any prizes. Participating guests will amass a mythical bankroll for each race based upon where their selected horse officially places in the race. Official race results will serve as the order of finish for each race. If the guest’s selected horse finishes in first or second place they will add to their bankroll based on official $2 win and $2 place payoffs. For example, if the guest’s selected horse wins a race and the WIN pays $8.00 and PLACE pays $3.60, the guest will add a total of $11.60 toward their bankroll. Payoffs will be capped at $42 for WIN and $22 for PLACE. The three participants with the highest accumulated bankrolls at the conclusion of the five designated races for that day will qualify for prizes as follows: 1st place = $75 wagering voucher 2nd place = $50 wagering voucher 3rd place = $25 wagering voucher In the event of a tie for third place, the contestant that selected the most first place finishers will be determined the winner. Should it remain a tie after this step, a coin-flip will take place. The track announcer (John Horne) will complete the same entry form for each day and choose the horses he believes will win all five races on the form. The announcer will amass the same type of mythical bankroll as participants and at the conclusion of the five races the announcer’s score will be calculated. If any or all of the three top finishers (participating guests) have higher final scores than the track announcer, their prizes (as listed above) will be doubled. If the track announcer has the highest score of any of the three top finishers, then those top three finishers will win the prizes as listed above ($75, $50, and $25). The most any participating guest may win is $150. Any participant that selects a horse that becomes scratched for a race will automatically receive the post time betting favorite as their selection for that specific race, including the track announcer. All winners MUST be present to claim their prizes when announced. Announcement of Winners/Prize Claim: Immediately following the conclusion of the fifth race on the contest form, all places will be calculated to determine the winners. An announcement will be made at the track over the track PA system directing the winners to the promotions counter to claim their prize. Once announced, the winners will have five (5) minutes to appear at the promotions counter with their valid form of identification and to complete the necessary winner’s paperwork to claim their prize. Any winner that does not claim or cannot produce the required valid form of identification within the 5-minute claiming time frame will forfeit their prize. Forfeited prizes will not be re-awarded to other place finishers outside of the top three and will not be split into other prizes. GENERAL PROMOTION RULES

Friday, November 6 at the track
The first 100 guests to show their Vernon Downs Rewards Card receive a free homemade Pumpkin Pie after Race 3.
While supplies last. Pies provided by Eddies Paramount Diner, Rome NY

Saturday, November 14
Post Time 5:05pm
THANK YOU TO ALL RACE FANS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!!
