With above normal temperatures, and a blanket give away, a large enthusiastic crowd greeted the trotters and pacers back to Buffalo Raceway for its 71st season of live harness racing at the Hamburg oval.

Driver Dan Noble stole the show as he piloted six horses to the winners’ circle, which included both featured races.

In the $11,000 opening night pacing feature for fillies and mares, Noble put Real Joy ($5.10) on the lead, and the five-year-old went wire-to-wire in 2:01.4 over a track rated sloppy.

Trained by Ron Van Wagoner, the win was the 15th lifetime for the daughter of Real Artist, and the $5,500 winner’s share of the purse put her lifetime earnings over $100,000.

In the $8,500 Fillies & Mares Open II, MS Michelle D ($17.80) made a strong backside brush, with Noble in the bike, en route to a one and three-quarter length win for owners James M. and Joseph R Dunn. The win was the 24th lifetime for the nine-year-old Camluck mare trained by James Dunn.

Noble’s other winners were, Shoe In ($7.90), Make Me Late ($8), King Otra ($3.90), and Square John ($7.40)

Racing will resume on Friday, January 11, with first post scheduled for 6:40 p.m.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)