Buffalo Raceway’s 2016 season is now in the books, and the track showed an increase of three per cent on the daily handle for its 88-day campaign.
"We're holding our own for the entertainment dollar with all the casinos in the area and account wagering opportunities," Buffalo Raceway Director of Operations Jon Cramer said in describing the recently completed meet.
"The three per cent increase is another positive sign," he added.
The Pick-5 wager was a new addition in 2016 on the Buffalo Raceway wagering menu and was a big success. "It was very well received," Cramer said, and noted that the average payoff was nearly $1,000.
In the year-end awards announced on closing day, That Horse JD was named Pacer of the Year at Buffalo Raceway.
Co-owned by Tessa Roland and Thomas Mazzone, That Horse JD won 12 of 24 starts in 2016 and earned $57,760. Trained by JD Perrin, That Horse JD (Rustler Hanover-Art Of The Sea) was claimed in four consecutive weeks in June, but continued to produce victories along the way.
Noble Legend was selected Trotter of the Year, thanks to six wins from 20 starts, including a track record of 1:56.3 set on June 10, which established a new mark for four-year-old geldings. Owned by Vogel & Wags Nags Stable along with Jack Rice, the Maria Rice-trained Noble Legend (Kadabra-Lovin It) was in the money 13 out of 20 starts at the Hamburg half-mile oval and earned $35,488.
JD Perrin won the Trainer of the Year award after having put up 106 victories in just 309 starts. It was the second most wins by a conditioner in Buffalo Raceway history (Sherri Holliday holds the mark of 122, set in 2011). It was the fourth straight season that Perrin has topped the trainer's rankings in wins.
Perrin has an incredible Universal Training Rating of .398, and pupils parading out of his stable earned $460,494 in purses during the Buffalo campaign. He currently sits in third place in UTR for conditioners with 300-499 starts nationally and is tenth overall in the United States in wins with 106.
Maria Rice finished in second place in the trainer's standings with 54 victories, while John Mungillo was third with 52 wins.
Jim Morrill Jr. won his first driving title at Buffalo Raceway since he captured the crown in 2006 when he posted 214 victories.
While driving just part-time at Buffalo Raceway, Morrill Jr. made the most of his starts with 131 wins in just 338 appearances to get Driver of the Year honours. He had seven trips to the winner's circle on four different occasions in 2016.
Morrill Jr. won at a 39 per cent rate and had a Universal Driving Rating of .532. He also led the way in purse earnings with $720,581.
Todd Cummings finished the season in second place in the driver's standings with 106 victories, while Kevin Cummings was third with 95, despite having missed several months of action with a broken arm.
All award winners will be honoured for their accomplishments in January, 2017.
Post-time favourites won at a 44 per cent clip on the year.
Simulcasting will be held during the off-season at Buffalo Raceway, with the current schedule showing Tuesday as the only day dark until the conclusion of the Saratoga meet.
(Buffalo Raceway)