Even though it was getaway day at Batavia Downs as the curtain came down on the 2024 summer/fall meeting on Saturday, Dec. 7, the competition was fast and furious during a 15-race card with drivers Kevin Cummings and Dave McNeight III winning five times each while trainer Sam Smith sent four from his stable to the winner’s enclosure on a night he was awarded as top conditioner of the meet. 

Kevin Cummings' winners included Runrunjimmydunn N (1:55.2, $6.30), Out On Bail (1:55.2, $3.50), Johnny Boy (1:58.1, $14) and Famous Dan (1:58.3, $3.20), all of which were trained by Smith, and Crystal Beach (1:57.4, $48.20) for trainer Lisa Mariacher.

Dave McNeight III's successful contingent was made up of Our Night Fury (1:59.2, $6.70) for Michael Ohol, Skyline Blue Chip (1:58.3, $3.20) for David McNeight Jr., Mach Le More A (1:56.2, $36.20) for Dave Russo, Shipsaway (1:57, $2.50) for Courtney Wright and Mason Street (1:59.2, $12.60) for Cassandra Johnson. 

There were co-featured $19,718 Opens on the closing card and the trot was won by another award winner. 

After going 0-for-8 last year in a less than memorable season, Dougadougadew did a complete 180 and capped off 2024 with his 12th win of the year while matching his career-best time in the Open Handicap Trot on the night when he was named the Trotter of the Meet at Batavia Downs. 

In a very typical start for the chestnut trotter, Dougadougadew and driver Kyle Cummings got away last by 10 lengths as El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) parked out the visiting Big Box Hanover (Larry Stalbaum) in fast fractions of :28.1 and :57 through the cold, blustery conditions. As the trotters headed onto the second circuit, Biscoe (Jim McNeight Jr.) made a first-over move and Dougadougadew was happy to take the cover, one out and one back. 

As the field headed towards three-quarters in 1:27, Big Box Hanover succumbed to the overland grind, forcing Biscoe and Dougadougadew three-wide into the final bend. Biscoe crossed over and Dougadougadew drew alongside, and the final furlong became a match race. Biscoe was maintaining his lead, but Dougadougadew kept digging and getting closer with every stride, and four pylons from the line, Dougadougadew edged ahead and won by a neck in 1:57.1, tying his lifetime mark. Discus Hanover (Drew Monti) finished three lengths behing in third.

Dougadougadew made it an even dozen victories in 33 starts and pushed his seasonal bankroll to $118,132 for owners Doug and Tyra Ackley and trainer Tammy Cummings. The homebred five-year-old gelding by Deweycheatumnhowe paid $7.80 to win.

In the Open Handicap Pace, the aforementioned Dave Russo trainee Mach Le More A and Dave McNeight III upset the field in a blanket finish at 17-1. 

Mach Le More A got away sixth as Virgil N (Mike Baumeister) got the field to the half in a tepid :58.4. Bet On Blake (Kevin Cummings) moved into second from a first-over move in turn three while Mach Le More A drafted, fourth on the outside. Positions remained unchanged to three-quarters in 1:27.1 and Virgil N even started to pull away from the group in the last turn. But Mach Le More A, who was still fourth and three lengths from the leader, had different ideas as he tipped to the middle of the track and mowed down the competition at the wire, where he won by a head in 1:56.2 in a photo with a mere length separating the top six finishers. Bet On Blake got second and Virgil N was third.

The win was second straight and ninth of the season in 41 starts for Mach Le More A, a nine-year-old Mach Three gelding who pushed his earnings to $125,292 this year for owners Marissa Russo and Fac Racing. He returned $36.20 to his backers for the upset win.

The $10,000 guaranteed Jackpot Hi-5 pool with an end of season must-pay in the 15th race produced an outstanding payoff to those who caught the number. The 9-1-3-5-2 combination returned $2,120,20 for a 20-cent wager.

As alluded to earlier in this report, meet-ending awards were presented by the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs during their Night of Distinction ceremony.

Longtime Batavia blacksmith Ray Cable received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Cable was awarded for his 60-plus years of work and dedication to the horses who raced at Batavia Downs. Cable was born on March 12, 1945 in Effingham, Illinois and followed his father Phillip’s footsteps into the farrier business. He started shoeing at age 12 as an apprentice with his father, who shod horses at racetracks on the Grand Circuit along with many county fairs across the country from their mobile truck shop before coming to Batavia to set up permanently in 1960. Since then, Cable has run his blacksmith shop on the grounds of Batavia Downs ever since.

Cable has shod thousands of horses over the years and from every class ranging from the bottom claimers to the top competing in the Open, from the barns of trainers across the U.S. as well as Canada. Cable has shod some of the best in the business, including the locally owned Bays Fella (1:51.1, $805,234), who won the Breeders Crown Open Pace in 1990.

Cable is one of four brothers that included Chuck, Phillip and Leon, who all became outstanding farriers. Ray’s son, Ray Jr., is also an accomplished farrier and his grandsons, Kelly and Chris, who are now both shoeing as well, make up the fourth generation of “Cable shoers.”

L to R: Ray Cable Jr., Ray Cable, Kelly Cable and Chris Cable.

Drew Monti was honoured as Driver of the Meet for the third time after taking the title in 2016 and 2018 while Sam Smith earned his second consecutive title as Trainer of the Meet.

Multiple Mares Open winner Won Surreal Deal, trained by Jeff Sorenson and owned by Parsimonious Racing Stable, was named Pacer of the Meet. Dougadougadew was awarded Trotter of the Meet.

All awards were presented trackside to the respective recipients and their connections. 

Although the 2024 meet has ended, the track won’t be dark for long as live harness racing returns to Batavia Downs on Monday, Jan. 6 for the start of the 15-day 2025 winter meet. Racing will be held every Monday and Thursday through Monday, Feb. 24, with all cards having a 3 p.m. post.

(With files from Batavia Downs; Top photo of Mach Le More A winning on Dec. 7)