At Vernon Downs Racing in Oneida County, New York, consistent, high-quality lighting plays an important role in performance and the overall race-day experience, including visibility-related safety considerations. For Holophane®, the challenge was clear: modernize an aging HID sports lighting system that was creating dark spots, glare, and operational strain – without requiring Vernon Downs to replace decades-old infrastructure.
By deploying the HOLOBEAM™ Remote Drive Precision Floodlight System, Holophane delivered a comprehensive LED retrofit that transformed visibility on the track, improved broadcast quality, reduced maintenance demands, and unlocked new opportunities for fan engagement – all while integrating seamlessly with existing poles and wiring.
“This is the best I have ever seen it,” said Leslie DeLorenzo, Mutel Manager, with more than 30 years at Vernon Downs. “I started as a parimutuel clerk punching tickets, so I’m well aware of the lighting here at the track.”
Addressing Visibility and Safety Challenges
Prior to the retrofit, inconsistent light levels created visible dark patches and glare conditions across portions of the track, affecting driver confidence, horse behavior, and safety conditions. Glare from outdated fixtures further complicated visibility, particularly during night races. Vernon Downs officials also had increasing concerns after safety conditions impacted race operations.
“We had an incident last year where we had to move our post time because they didn’t feel they were safe,” continued DeLorenzo, describing an experience at Vernon Downs before the lighting upgrade. “So that got us the new lights, and they haven’t complained about safety since.”
Holophane’s team offered a solution focused on uniformity, visual comfort, and more precise optical control. By directing light straight down onto the racing surface rather than outward, the new system significantly reduced glare and dark spots, creating a more comfortable and predictable environment for both horses and drivers.
“Some horses would look at dark spots here and there,” said John McDonald, Horsemen, of his observations. “Now that that’s eliminated, there’s no glare.”
A Retrofit-Built Solution Designed for Existing Infrastructure
A key differentiator of the HOLOBEAM system is its ability to integrate with Vernon Downs’ existing infrastructure. Rather than requiring new poles or extensive rewiring, Holophane retrofitted the system onto 30-year-old poles and reused existing wiring – helping reduce installation complexity and downtime.
“The biggest factor to me was that you could take my infrastructure and utilize that into incorporating the new system,” said Arthur Wood, AGM & Senior Director of Facilities, Vernon Downs. “Our poles are 30 years old and yet you could modify them enough to get your system onto it.”
This retrofit-friendly approach allowed Vernon Downs to dramatically reduce fixture count while increasing overall performance. The project reduced the total number of fixtures from more than 800 HID luminaires to just over 200 high-output LED fixtures, delivering enhanced illumination with fewer points of maintenance.
Broadcast-Ready Performance
The lighting upgrade delivered measurable improvements not only for racing operations, but also for spectators and broadcast audiences. With Vernon Downs exporting its racing signal to off-site viewers and wagering platforms, lighting quality plays a direct role in visibility on screen.
Holophane’s HOLOBEAM system helped improve clarity for high-definition broadcasts, creating consistent illumination across camera angles and reducing harsh contrasts that previously affected image quality.
Energy and Operational Efficiency
In addition to performance gains, the LED retrofit delivered significant energy and maintenance savings. Compared to the existing HID system at Vernon Downs, the HOLOBEAM solution was projected to reduce energy consumption by up to 70%, saving more than $50,000 annually in energy costs.
“We used to spend two lifts out at the beginning of the season, and we would have to spend at least a week changing light bulbs,” explained Wood. “It would be two crews in two different directions trying to get it done in a week.”
Maintenance demands were also substantially reduced. The combination of fewer fixtures, long-life LED technology, and field-replaceable remote drivers at Vernon Downs was designed to reduce routine bulb changes and seasonal lift rentals, resulting in estimated annual maintenance savings of more than $20,000.
Expanding Event Capabilities and Fan Engagement
Beyond racing operations, the integrated controls capabilities of the HOLOBEAM system provide Vernon Downs with dynamic lighting control for non-racing events. Dimming, on/off control, and entertainment lighting effects enable the venue to support concerts, special events, and fan engagement experiences – extending the value of the lighting investment well beyond race nights.
“We talked today about doing two concerts next year,” said Wood. “This would help us immensely with just getting the people excited.”
A Brighter Future for Vernon Downs Racing
The Vernon Downs project demonstrates that racetrack lighting modernization can be accomplished without full infrastructure replacement. Through precision optical engineering, a reduced fixture count, and retrofit compatibility, Holophane delivered a sports lighting solution that supports improved visibility, lowers operating costs, and helps prepare Vernon Downs Racing for the future.
The result is controlled, uniform illumination intended to support horse welfare considerations, driver confidence, broadcast clarity, and facility operations, illustrating a scalable retrofit approach for racetracks with similar needs.
