Batavia Downs will bring the curtain down on its 2010 harness racing season this Saturday with a tribute to 'The Happy Handicapper,' the late Robert J. 'Bob' Summers
, longtime horse racing writer and columnist for the Buffalo News.
The seventh race on Saturday’s 12-dash card will be dedicated as the Bob Summers Memorial Pace. Summers, who passed away of a heart attack in September at age 66, covered horse racing for the Buffalo News for the past 25 years. His column, 'The Happy Handicapper,' was popular with horse racing enthusiasts across Western New York and Southern Ontario.
Todd Haight, promotion marketing specialist at Batavia Downs, is organizing the tribute race. “It is our honour to host the Bob Summers Memorial Pace,” he said. “Bob was a fair and knowledgeable writer and a friend to everyone in the racing department. He was a great guy and we will miss him.”
Bob’s wife of 42 years, Sheila, and his daughter, Samantha, will be trackside to congratulate the winning driver, trainer and owner. Approximate post time for the Summers Pace is 8:30 p.m. First post is 6:40 p.m.
(Batavia)