The Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association in conjunction with Batavia Downs Casino made their annual awards presentations on Friday night, December 4 at the Genesee County oval
.
Tim Bojarski, President of the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association, along with first Vice President Jason Settlemoir and delegates Sam Pendolino and Brian Mazurek, were trackside presenting trophies as part of the UNY-USHWA Night of Distinction.
Kevin Cummings took home Driver of the Meet and Year in Western New York honours.
The 39-year-old reinsman has had a tremendous 2009 winning 263 races and his drives have earned over of $1.1 million.
Despite missing some time due to an early season spill, Cummings won his first ever Downs drivers title winning 115 races. His UDRS is an impressive .327 and his $517,000 in purse earnings is the second best of all time at America’s oldest lighted track, behind only Jim Morrill, Jr., who set the record of $802,000 back in 2005.
Cummings began his driving career in 1989 and has won 1785 races with over $5.8 million in career earnings.
Kevin Cummings is the younger brother of driver John Cummings, Jr. and son of high percentage trainer John Cummings, Sr.
Sherri Holliday was named the Trainer of the Meet and Year in Western New York.
This year the powerful Sherri Holliday stable has won 152 races and her trainee’s have earned over $678,000.
Taking home her first ever Batavia Downs training title, Sherri has won 66 races with a win percentage of 25%. Her stable has earnings of $226,000 and her UTRS is .368.
What makes her Batavia Downs meet so impressive was the fact that her husband, Ken, was out for the first six weeks of the meet due to an injury. In the winner's circle, she acknowledged drivers Robert Verney and Tom Agosti, who filled in while her husband was out. Holliday is the trainer of the Betty Tauber Stable, who was named Owner of the Year.
Throughout her training career that began in 2004, Sherri has won 560 races and her barn has earned almost $3 million in purses.
Peter Arrigenna’s Tuesdays With Mom, was honoured as the Western New York owned New York Sire Stakes Horse of the Year.
The two-year-old Credit Winner-Princess Deanna trotting filly was bred and is trained by Arrigenna.
In nine starts, the talented filly posted six wins and three seconds including a second place finish in the rich New York Night of Champions held earlier this year at Vernon Downs. She ended her juvenile campaign with over $187,000 earnings.
Also honoured was Gerry Sarama with the Lifetime Achievement Award, Cathy and Tom Barzycki with the Good Guy Award, reinsman Jack Flanigen with the Comeback of the Year award and pacer Arm And A Leg as the Horse of the Meet and Year in Western New York.
Congratulations to all of this year's award winners.
(Batavia Downs)