by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Visitor Parking started the initial Tuesday (May 22) program of 2007 at Vernon Downs off on a fast note with a 1:54.4 triumph in the day’s first race.

Josh Marks, steering for co-owner/trainer Dave Dewhurst and his partner, Dominick Schillace, drove Visitor Parking like he was the best pacer in the field of seven, and the son of Keystone Raider proved that he was by posting an 11 length score. It was the first win in nine current outings for the 7-year-old gelding, who now sports career winnings of more than $142,000.

Bucky B Skipalong (winning in 1:56 for the Mar Jac Farms) and Noah’s Art (scoring in 1:56.1 for owner/trainer Lonny Hale) also turned in fleet-footed performances during Tuesday’s nine-race card.

Noah’s Art represented one of two triumphs during the program for driver Jimmy Whittemore, who also guided the pacer Kermunn to a career best 1:59 tally for the Ed Fitzpatrick, Richard Moran and Robert Hankle ownership group. It marked the fifth two-win program of the 15-night-old meet for Whittemore, who presently ranks third in the track’s driving derby.

Downs Doings: While admittedly a 1:54.4 mile isn’t super fast by today’s standards, it was some 52 years ago (1955) that Vernon’s competition course was christened “The home of the miracle mile” by members of the central New York media after a 1:55 performance by the legendary pacer Adios Harry, a world race record that stood the test of time for 18 seasons…Hale is the meet’s leading race-winning trainer with 14 first place finishes…Vernon will present live programs at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday (May 24) and Saturday (May 26) nights before offering a 1:15 p.m. matinee card on Memorial Day (May 28)…Vernon’s 777 machine video gaming facility operates daily from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m., while the track’s simulcast schedule starts each day at 11:00 a.m.