Morrisville State College Horse Wins at Vernon Downs

News from Morrisville State College:

Morrisville State College’s horse racing programs notched another victory, this time with one of its Standardbreds, at the Vernon Downs harness racing track.

The July 6 race was a mark in both the driver’s and horse’s career. 

Driver Cole Wimmer, of Camden, an instructional support assistant at the college, raced Mr. Wiskers to the win, claiming his first career pari-mutuel driving victory. 

Wimmer is a 2006 graduate of the college’s equine racing management, Standardbred program. 

“It was a lifetime mark for Mr. Wiskers,” said Keith Cluff of the three-year-old Bay Colt’s maiden race, his first for money, earning him $1,500 for his share of the purse. 

Mr. Wiskers, owned by the Morrisville College Foundation, is trained by Cluff, director of the college’s Standardbred program with assistance from Krystal Koster, a junior in the college’s equine racing management, Standardbred program.

The colt, donated to the college last October, is one of two Standardbreds racing at Vernon Downs this summer. The second, Stirling Dusty, recently celebrated a second-place finish.

Wimmer was elated, giving credit for the win to Mr. Wiskers, who underwent surgery last fall to remove a bone chip from his hock and spent 60 days being rehabilitated at the college’s own equine rehabilitation center.

Mr. Wiskers shares a victory with Thoroughbreds, Hot Idea and Don’t Back Down, who raced to victory in June at the Finger Lakes Racetrack.  

Both of those Thoroughbreds are trained by Dr. Clyde Cranwell, associate professor and director of the college’s Thoroughbred program, with assistance from students in the college’s Thoroughbred program.