Leon Bailey Ends Season in Style with Seven Wins at Vernon Downs

Driver Leon Bailey delivered a spectacular performance on Saturday, November 16, guiding seven winners on Vernon Downs’ final race card of the 2024 season.  

Bailey started strong with a victory aboard Rally Your Crew in the first race. Later in the night, he unleashed a dominant streak beginning in race six, notching consecutive wins with Monis Heaven Cent, Keg Party, Warrawee Unique, City Of Hope, and War Of Will. Appropriately, Bailey closed out the season with a triumph in the last race aboard Dry Ridge Cutie.  

Known as “Lightning” Leon, Bailey capped off his season with a career-best 166 wins, securing his third dash title at Vernon Downs and earning the Driver of the Year honour. John MacDonald finished second with 111 wins, followed by Jimmy Whittemore, Steeven Genois (tied at 60), and Frank Affrunti (41).  

On the training side, Jessica Okusko claimed her second dash title with 46 wins, earning the Trainer of the Year award. She edged out Jeff Sorenson (42), Claude Huckabone III (39), Gary Gibson (31), and Leopold Sawyers (29).  

Rock Solid Express, a four-year-old pacer trained by Okusko for owners James DeArmond and David Towne, was named Pacer of the Year after recording eight wins in 18 starts at Vernon. The Trotter of the Year title went to Woodside Gabe, a four-year-old gelding trained by Amanda Bailey. Owned by David Faile and Joe Facin Jr., Woodside Gabe tallied six victories in 13 starts, including four wins in the Open Trot.  

The night’s feature race, the $11,972 Open Pace, went to Pirate Hanover, driven by Aaron Byron. The six-year-old horse by Captaintreacherous charged from second-over to secure a 1:53 victory, defeating Primo Uomo (Bailey) and Shipsaway (John MacDonald). Owned and trained by Byron, Pirate Hanover now boasts 10 wins for the season and 19 in his career.  

Vernon Downs expressed gratitude to horsepeople, employees, and fans for a successful 2024 meet. Live harness racing will return in April 2025.