When Kevin Cummings won with Tymal Envoy in the ninth race at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Dec. 6, he registered the 5,000th win of his 36-year driving career.

The reinsman pulled the four-year-old Sam Smith-trained gelding from the pocket nearing three-quarters, and Tymal Envoy ($5.08) streaked away to a seven-length victory in 1:58, securing the milestone for Cummings. 

Cummings comes from a family steeped in harness racing heritage. His father, John Cummings Sr., and brothers John Cummings Jr., Tony Cummings and Todd Cummings all trained and drove at Batavia Downs going back to 1979, with the brothers getting a hands-on education from their father at an early age.

After starting to drive at age 19 in 1989, Cummings developed into a stellar reinsman who has been near the top of the leaderboard almost every year since. Throughout his career, Cummings has been a high-demand driver and, as a result, has won a slew of driving titles in western New York, including five at Batavia Downs since the racino era began in 2005. He has also finished second five times at The Downs during that time period.

Cummings is not only a desired driver by local trainers; he also draws some of the best visiting horses during New York Sire Stakes season. He had the privilege of sitting behind the great seven-million-dollar man, Foiled Again, in 2016 when he won The Downs’ signature event, the Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace in 1:52.2. Cummings also won the 2006 Kane with Michael Scores in 1:52.1.

In 2021, when Cummings hit the 4,000-win mark, he reflected by saying “It means a lot, it’s a good milestone and I’d like to get to 5,000. But I don’t know if that will happen.” It only took four years to get there, and at 55 years old, 6,000 appears to be a very achievable goal for the savvy driving veteran.

Cummings' career numbers now show 5,001 wins from 28,741 starts with 4,678 seconds and 4,224 thirds, giving him a lifetime UDR of .313. He has recorded earnings of $28.2 million.

At the current Batavia meet, Cummings now sits second for dash wins with 80. 

Despite his triple, his deficit to leader Drew Monti grew, as that reinsman was at the top of his game Saturday with six wins on the 15-race card. Monti won with Brushing Up (1:57.4, $23.88), Rock Me Always (1:55.3, $4.28), Somebodyitreasure (1:55.2, $2.84), Treasured Tee (1:59, $2.78), Soul Assassin (1:56.2, $7.56) and Kbssweetcaroline (1:58, $4.96).

The six wins pushed Monti to 105 wins for the current meet, which is 25 ahead of Cummings. Joe Chindano Jr. is third, only one back of second.

His big night came in large part as a combined effort with conditioner Sam Smith, as The Downs’ leading trainer extended his lead substantially with five wins on the program. Smith’s victorious trainees were Brushing Up, Rock Me Always, Somebodyitreasure and Kbssweetcaroline, along with Tymal Envoy.

Smith now has 59 wins and is seven ahead of Shawn McDonough (52) with only four cards of racing remaining.  

There were two $17,361 feature races on the evening, one on the pace and one on the trot, won by Livonjaxandqueens and Dougadougadew, respectively. 

In the Open Pace, Flag Party (Joe Chindano Jr.) set a :28.2 quarter and :57.4 half, where Livonjaxandqueens (Denny Bucceri) pulled first-over and came to within a length of the leader at three-quarters in 1:25.2. Flag Party and Livonjaxandqueens paced side-by-side around the last turn, but when they entered the stretch, Livonjaxandqueens started to dart away and eventually won by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55. Toreador Gb (Kyle Swift) closed for place over Flag Party.

The win was the 10th of the year in 31 appearances for the favoured Livonjaxandqueens ($3.72), who is owned by Howard Ouriel and trained by Jim Rothfuss. The five-year-old American Ideal-Its De Lovely stallion is now 24-for-88 lifetime. 

In the Open Trot, El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) cut fractions of :28.4, :59.2 and 1:28.4 while Dougadougadew (Kyle Cummings) drafted third along the cones behind Gone Crazee (Monti). Straightening for home, Gone Crazee made a break, opening room for Dougadougadew to chugga-chugga-through the passing lane where he turned a 2-1/2-length deficit into a 1-1/2-length win in 1:58.4. El Toro Loco finished second, followed by a gaining Brookview Darius (Swift).

Dougadougadew ($4.76) took his third score of the year in 29 starts for trainer Tammy Cummings. Doug and Tyra Ackley own the six-year-old son of Deweycheatumnhowe-Fashionable Filly, who has now won 20 of 85 lifetime outings.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at a new, earlier post time of 5 p.m., which will be in effect for all race days through the end of the meet. There will be a carryover of $1,590 available in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the 13th race. 

(With files from Batavia Downs)