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.
