In a drivers challenge for charity held on the Sunday, Sept. 14 matinee at Saratoga Casino Hotel, the “Young Guns” Brett Beckwith, Mitch Cushing, Jacob Cutting and Matt Athearn got the better of “The Veterans” Wally Hennessey, Mark Beckwith, Chris Long and Jimmy Devaux in the four-race challenge to benefit the Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program and Harness Horse Youth Foundation.
Although the “old guard” won three of the four races that comprised the challenge, it was the "young guns" who earned more points with a total score of 54-50 as points were awarded to the top five finishers in each race.
Beckwith piloted the lone winner in the contest for the "Young Guns" team as he guided Can Am to a decisive victory in the fourth race on Sunday en route to being the top point earner (18) among all the participants. Cushing was the only driver to record at least one point in all four of the contest races. Hennessey led the "The Veterans" team with 17 points while Devaux and Long joined Hennessey in piloting a winner in the contest.
An incredible $48,000 USD was raised in the charity event, which was put on by Saratoga's track photographer Jessica Hallett.
Saratoga Raceway would like to thank all those who participated in the event, including Hallett, the dozens of sponsors and the drivers who took part in the challenge.
Live harness racing continues on Monday, Sept. 15 at Saratoga with a matinee that begins at 12 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)