For the second night in a row, it was a “Winter Wonderland in Western New York,” as the curtain came down on another season of racing at America’s oldest lighted harness track, Batavia Downs Casino.
Saturday night’s 12-race program was highlighted by three feature races, including race seven, the $9,000 Robert J. Summers Memorial Pace, named after “The Happy Handicapper,” the late Robert J “Bob” Summers, longtime horse racing writer and columnist for the Buffalo News, who died in September.
Winning the Summers Memorial was The Grey Filly, for trainer-driver Ron Beback, Jr., who drew clear in the stretch for a three length win, in 1:58.4. The four-year-old Northern Luck mare has been razor sharp the entire summer-fall meet. The victory was her eighth of the season and put her over the $61,000 mark in season's earnings for owner Sandra Beback.
Bob’s wife of 42 years, Sheila, and his daughter, Samantha, were trackside for a special winner’s circle ceremony.
Justine Colleen was put right on the lead by Jack Flanigen, named the Driver of the Year by the Upstate N.Y. Chapter of the U. S. Harness Writers’ Association, and they never looked back, en route to a head score, in 2:00, in the $9,000 Open Handicap trot.
Since being moved to the barn of Jim Graham, the seven-year-old Inquirer mare has won three of her last four starts. She’s owned Jeffry Myers and Richey Edward Myers.
The classy Compass Connection took the final $9,000 Open Handicap pace of the season, in wire-to-wire fashion for reinsman Jim McNeight, in 1:55.3 -- a huge mile considering the conditions.
The eight-year-old Village Connection gelding has won 41 times during his career and sports a lifetime bankroll of more than $430,000. He’s earned more than $64,000 this season for trainer Bob Gruber, who co-owns with Jude Jacobs, James Kustra and Wags and Nags Stable.
Kevin Cummings and Sherri Holliday defended as their titles as leading driver and trainer during the 2010 season. Each was presented a trophy by Tim Bojarski, President of the Upstate New York Chapter of the U. S. Harness Writers’ Association and delegate Sam Pendolino.
Trophies were also given out for Western New York Horse of the year, Boomer Berman, Pacer of the Meet, Two Twentytwo, and Trotter of the Meet, Fifty Two Finn.
Longtime Western New York horseman Fred Haslip received the Lifetime Achievement Award and Peter Arrigenna was honored with the Good Guy Award.
Tom “The Hammer” Corsall of Rochester and Sam Monachino of Elba each selected four winners and that was enough to take home $500 each in the guaranteed payoff night Pick-6 contest sponsored by the Western New York Harness Horsemen’s Association.
Batavia Downs Casino would like to thank the fans for their continued support during the 2010 race season, and also thank the horseman for their hard work this season. Pending New York State Racing and Wagering Board approval, the 65th season of live harness racing at the Genesee County oval will begin on July 25, 2011.
(Batavia Downs Casino)