It was a special night in Western New York as the Downs honored former leading driver Gaston Guindon
, and a special horse, Arm And A Leg won the featured $8,000 Open Handicap.
With 2009 leading reinsman Kevin Cummings in the bike, Arm And A Leg notched his fourth Open win of the 2009 Summer-Fall meet in 1:55.3, for owners Mark Jakubik and John Cummings Sr.
Arm And A Leg ($3.70) fired out of the gate from his assigned outside post and put up all the numbers, including a :30.2 second quarter breather, enroute to a neck victory over a fast closing Triple Bars with Jimmy Whisman, Sparky and Tom Agosti wound up third.
The victory was the 11th of the season for Arm And A Leg who raised his seasonal earnings to almost $70,000. The 6 year-old altered son of Nobleland Sam is trained by John Cummings Sr.
I had a great evening “The Gasser,” Gaston Guindon said, “I can’t believe how many of my friends came out to see me.” The French-Canadian raced in Western New York for 29 years. “The memories I have of this track are incredible, I want to thank all the people I drove for especially Dennis Cummings, I think we won about 700 races together.”
America’s oldest lighted harness racing track is currently racing every Tuesday-Wednesday-Friday and Saturday nights, post time is 7:05p.m.
(Batavia Downs Casino)