harness racing

Batavia Downs Casino is moving its first race post time on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 6:40 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. to accommodate the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which has a 7 o'clock post time. Post time will remain at 6:40 p.m. for all other race nights.

“We didn’t want to go head-to-head with the Breeders' Cup classic, so we decided to start our live program a half and hour later,” said Todd Haight, general manager of live racing. “We want our customers both at the track and at our 35 OTB’s to enjoy the classic before we get under way.”

Racing fans are reminded that the final Tuesday night of the summer-fall meet takes place on Oct. 25.

Racing will be conducted at America’s oldest lighted harness track on a Wednesday, Friday, Saturday night basis through Dec. 3.

When racing resumes on Friday night the Pick-6 will start out with a carryover pool of 3,023. The Pick-6 wager begins on the 7th race.

“We could have over $5,000 in there (the pool),” Haight added. “We had a strong advance sale of programs and I think many are going to be focusing on the Pick-6.

Tonight's seventh race at Batavia Downs Casino, the Open Trot, is named in honor of a great lady that Western New York harness racing fans won’t soon forget. Live racing programs will feature a special insert highlighting some of Mary Ann Sarama-Luce’s harness racing career.

The Mary Ann Sarama-Luce Memorial Trot will be in recognition of a great mother, person, horseman and friend to so many in Western New York. She passed away in July after a long battle with leukemia. She was 73.

Mary Ann was introduced into the business when she met Danny Sarama in the late 1960s. From that point, she and Danny teamed up to own the successful Mardan stable, that included the pacer You Devil You, who won 10 races in a row in 1976.

In the early 1980s, after separating from Danny, she continued on as both a trainer and a driver. Her best year as a driver came in 1983 when she won 21 races. Throughout her driving career she won 109 races. In 1990 she turned the lines over to her son, Carl Surdyk.

On the training side, she conditioned 107 winners, including four this year. Her purse earnings exceeded $334,000. Some of the top horses she trained included Gold Bandit N, Top Dog Alex, Top Dog Nicholas, Easy L-Bar and Guy-Lee Debbie.

Harness racing was her number-one priority and passion,” her daughter Lynette Mcgiveron said. “Her horses were the driving force behind her battle to recover. Even in her final days she worried more about her horses then herself."

"A fierce competitor both as a trainer and a driver,” was the best way Bruce Tubin, president of the Western New York Harness Horsemen's Association, described Mary Ann. “I have fond memories competing against and working with her. She’ll be missed by all."

    Tim Tetrick, also known as "The Bionic Man," makes his first-ever Batavia Downs & Casino appearance on Wednesday night (Aug. 3) when the New York Sire Stakes' 2-year-old pacing fillies roll into town.
    First race post time is 6:40 p.m.
    The 30-year-old Tetrick is currently leading all of North America in wins with 457 and purse earnings totaling $7,773,683. Throughout a career that began in 1998, he's won 6,425 and his drives have earned $98,024,539.
    His best year came in 2007 when he won 1,189 races. In 2008 his drives earned more than 19 million dollars.
    Tetrick is listed to drive in the first race, a $9,000 Open for fillies and mares and all five New York Sire Stake races, carded as races 2,5,7,8 and 11, with each division worth over $24,000 in purse money. Tim will have a long day as he is scheduled to drive in the first 11 races at Harrah's Chester, located in Chester, Pa., in the afternoon.
    Racing fans unable to attend the races can watch all the action via live streaming video at www.bataviadownscasino.com. Simply click on the "Live racing" section and then on the "streaming video" link.

Press release:

Tim Tetrick, also known as “The Bionic Man,” makes his first-ever Batavia Downs & Casino appearance on Wednesday night (Aug. 3) when the New York Sire Stakes 2-year-old pacing fillies roll into town.

The 30-year-old Tetrick is currently leading all of North America in wins with 457 and purse earnings totaling $7,773,683. Throughout a career that began in 1998, he’s won 6,425 and his drives have earned $98,024,539.

His best year came in 2007 when he won 1,189 races. In 2008 his drives earned more than 19 million dollars.

Tetrick is listed to drive in the first race, a $9,000 Open for fillies and mares and all five New York Sire Stake races, carded as races 2,5,7,8 and 11, with each division worth over $24,000 in purse money. Tim will have a long day as he is scheduled to drive in the first 11 races at Harrah’s Chester, located in Chester, Pennsylvania in the afternoon.

"We’re thrilled to have the leading driver in all of North America come to the Downs on Wednesday night.” said Todd Haight, general manager of live racing. “Throughout the years we’ve had Hall of Famer after Hall of Famer race here and Tim only adds to that list.”

Racing fans unable to attend the races can watch all the action via live streaming video at www.bataviadownscasino.com. Simply click on "Live racing" section and then on "streaming video link.

Press release:

Thirty-seven of New York’s finest pacing fillies converge on Batavia Downs and Casino as New York Sire Stakes action continues on Wednesday night (Aug. 3). Five divisions highlight the 12-race program with over $120,000 in NYSS purse money up for grabs.

First race post time is 6:40 p.m. The first division takes place in race two, with seven fillies set to go behind starter Mark Phillips. The ones to keep your eye out for are the Bettor's Delight-Silky Western filly, Silk Purse, and the Art Major-Impagain filly, Park Lane Paige.

Silk Purse comes off a 1:56.3, track record performance at Buffalo Raceway. Tim Tetrick, making his first-ever Batavia Downs appearance, drives for trainer Linda Toscano. Park Lane Paige looks for her third win in a row after scoring in 1:54.4 at Tioga in a division of the Tompkins-Geers and in 1:57.1 at Buffalo. Once again Jim Morrill Jr. will steer for trainer Mark Ford.

JK Fine Art figures to get all the attention in the second NYSS division, race number five. The Art Major-Presidential Lady offspring is 2- for-2 in her career with wins at Yonkers (1:56.2) and Buffalo (1:58.1). Tetrick will once again be in the sulky for trainer Toscano.

Centralia Hanover, by Art Major-Calgary Hanover, looks like the horse to beat in the fourth division of sire stakes, race eight. She’s 2-for- 2 against New York breds, with victories at Yonkers (1:56.1) and Buffalo (1:58). Her only defeat came at Harrah’s Chester when she made a break at the start. Morrill will be in the bike for trainer Mark Harder.

The final stakes of the evening is carded as race 10. Handsoffmycookie (Art Major-Observe Me) starts out as a prohibitive 4-5 favorite on the morning line. She sports back-to-back scores at Yonkers (1:57.3) and Buffalo (1:57.1). Trainer Scott Di Domenico will have the services of Tetrick. The other sire stakes of the evening is race seven. It’s the most contentious of the events and features an eight-horse field and seven betting interests.

Racing fans unable to attend the races can watch all the action via live streaming video at www.bataviadownscasino.com <http://www.bataviadownscasino.com/>. Simply click on the "Live racing" section and then on "streaming video link."

Press release:

A $10,000 Preferred Pace and two $12,200 New York Bred late closers highlighted the Saturday night program, closing out the first week of live harness racing at Batavia Downs Casino.
 
In the Preferred, Barbara Andrels’ Lake Shark sat in two-hole the entire mile, angled out at the top of the stretch and roared home down the center of the racetrack to notch his sixth win of the season in 1:54.3. John Cumming Jr. was in the sulky for trainer Mike Carrubba.
 
New York Prime (Chris Page) closed up the pylons to be second while Cry for Cash (Ron Beback Jr., rallied to be third.
 
Lake Shark, a 4-year-old son of Four Starzzz Shark was claimed for $18,750 back in May. He’s earned $189,752 lifetime.
 
In NYSS late closing action, Southwind Inferno went right to the top and held on in a three horse blanket finish to score his fourth win of the season in 1:55.1 for trainer Andy Sardella and reinsman John Cummings Jr. The gelded son of American Ideal is owned in partnership by Michael Pozefsky, William Pozefsky and Myron Ekstein.
 
Bubbie Boy never really had an anxious moment when he cruised to a daylight win in 1:57 in the other NYSS late closer of the evening. Jack Flanigen was at the lines for trainer Cory Mcgivern. Bubbie Boy, a gelded son of Artiscape, is owned by Richard Mersky. The New York Sire Stakes season resumes on Wednesday night with five divisions of 2-year-old pacing fillies on the docket. Total NYSS purse money exceeds $120,000.
 
Tim Tetrick, currently leading all of North America in wins with 454 and purse earnings with $7.7 million, will make his first ever Downs appearance.
 
America’s oldest lighted harness track is currently racing every Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Saturday night. Post time is 6:40. For more information please visit www.bataviadownscasino.com.

Once again Batavia Downs will play host to another $7,500 scholarship race for local, college-bound students. The event will feature students from area schools accompanied by professional harness racing drivers in a one-mile dash for the cash on Saturday, Sept. 10.

"We are once again pleased to help support the education of students in our community in such a unique way," said Todd Haight, general manager of Live Racing at Batavia Downs. "We were so pleased with how well our first dash for cash was received, we immediately went back to our partners and requested we give it another go.

“Not only did the five participating students earn valuable scholarship funds, but also a greater understanding of the sport of harness racing, which was our main goal."

Last year, Kaley Falkowski, of Batavia High School, with professional Jim Mulcahy sitting alongside in a double-seated jog cart, bested four other students.

This year, Batavia, Oakfield-Alabama and Notre Dame high schools will each be represented by one student. The remaining two spots will be chosen by lottery. All schools can use any criteria they wish to pick their students.

During the summer, the students will attend at least five training sessions at the track with their driver to learn the safety and skills needed to drive a horse. Then between the fourth and fifth live harness races on Sept. 10, they will line up behind the starting gate and compete for scholarships of $3000, $2000, $1200, $800 and $500, depending on where they finish.

The approximate time of the competition that evening is between 7:30 and 8:30.

Once again, the scholarship event is sponsored by the horsemen, breeders, owners and raceways of Western New York through the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State, the Western New York Harness Horsemen's Association, Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs Casino.

Batavia Downs Casino, America’s oldest lighted harness track, opens for its 65th racing season on Monday, July 25, for 72 racing dates.

Post time is 6:40 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays in August. There will also be a special 1:15 matinee on Sunday, Aug. 29; Monday, Sept. 5 (Labor Day), which features a day-night doubleheader; and Monday, Oct. 10 (Columbus Day). For more information, visit <http://www.batavia-downs.com/>

Here's a press release from Batavia Downs:

Congratulations goes out to Heidi Rosario of Buffalo who won Friday night's (May13) Western OTB/NHHC handicapping contest qualifier, in the clubhouse at Batavia Downs Casino.

Rosario bested leader Hyland Clark in the final contest race.

She’ll represent Western OTB in the $50,000 National Harness Handicapping Championship to be held at the Meadowland Racetrack on July 9th. Best of Luck to Heidi and many thanks to everyone that participated.

Later this year Western OTB and Batavia Downs Casino will host a qualifier for the 2012 Horse Players World Series. Details will be announced soon. Check out www.westernotb.com <http://www.westernotb.com>  for more information.

This information comes from a news release written by Tim Bojarski, for the Western New York Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers' Association.

The Upstate New York Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers’ Association has announced that longtime trainer-driver Fred Haslip will receive its 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award.

It will be presented to him in the Winner’s Circle during the Upstate Harness Writers' Association's “Night of Distinction,” which will be held at Batavia Downs Casino on Saturday, Dec. 4.

Haslip was one of the most sought after catch-drivers in Western New York during the 1970s and '80s, and was responsible for teaming some of the best horses to race on that circuit during that time.

The lifelong resident of Basom started driving at fairs in 1959 and scored his first pari-mutuel win in 1960.

During his 51-year career he posted 2,585 lifetime driving wins and banked $6 million dollars in purse money -- doing it the hard way, mostly in overnight events in an era where purses were not what they are today.

The list of horses that Haslip has teamed over the years is long and includes names such as: Diamond Sparkler, p, 9, Q1:56.3 ($328,737); Happy Sparkler, p, 9, 1:58.2h ($156,756); Handsome Boy, 5, 2:00.2h ($142,048); Keystone Astro, p, 7, 2:01.1h ($136,204); and Kay El, Jack the Baron, Coaltown Smoke, Flawless Sparkler, Little Commish, Princess Dee Dee, Tarvon, Red Almond, BBQ, Paige Man and Cheryl Grattan.

But Haslip is probably most noted for developing the former double-gaited record holder, Excalibur.

Excalibur, who was purchased as a 4-year-old for the paltry sum of $3,500, in 1972, would go on to bank just under $200,000 in his career. In 1977, Excalibur set the North American record for a double-gaited gelding when he trotted a mile in 2:03.3. That time equaled his pacing record, set in 1974, and those times combined were 4:07.1, which broke a record set in 1939.

Excalibur raced until he was 14, retiring in 1982. In 169 lifetime starts, on both gaits combined, he posted 50 wins -- 12 on the trot and 38 on the pace. The horse was such a versatile athlete that from 1975 to 1977 Haslip raced him on both gaits, switching him back and forth during the year.

The 68-year-old Haslip cut back on his drives substantially in the mid 1990s and for the last 10 years has started less than 50 times a year. He still trains a four-horse stable of his own on his farm, but elects to appoint catch-drivers to do the teaming.

News release from Batavia Downs:

The dynamic duo of  driver Ken and trainer Sherri Holliday had a huge Saturday night at Batavia Downs Casino when they made five winner circle appearances, including winning the featured $9,000 Open with the rages to riches pacer Sand Forever.
 
Just a $2500 claimer at Running Aces Park earlier this season, Sand Forever  made the transition to the Open ranks a winning one when he flew down the stretch to nail the front running Most Happy Rider (Kevin Cummings) by a head in 1:57.3 in the weekly pacing feature. Zackor (Ron Beback, Jr.) checked in third.
 
The win was Sand Forever’s 15th of the 2010 campaign and 25th of his career in 80 lifetime starts. He’s a 5-year-old Stand Forever gelding. He returned $5.80 win, being sent off as the lukewarm favorite.
 
The Holliday’s other winners were Scudder ($10.00), Bruener ($5.50 - - now three for three in Western New York), Masteroftheclass ($2.60) and Nifty Prescott ($18.60).   
 
Last year’s Downs leading conditioner Sherri Holliday began the evening in a tie with Ron Beback, Jr. in the race for top trainer honors. With only two more nights left in the 2010 season her five win lead would now seem insurmountable.
 
Dave McNeight III, a 20-year-old provisional reinsman, had a night he soon won’t forget when he scored the first hat trick of his career. In 24 lifetime drives he’s won six of them and definitely looks like a young man with a bright future.  
 
Another provisional reinsman, Denny Bucceri, had a big weekend going two for two. He’s now won five times in 29 starts this year.
 
Kevin Cummings heads into closing weekend with a five win cushion over Jack Flanigen in his bid to defend his dash driving title. Both were winless on the Saturday program.
 
Racing fans are reminded there will be no live racing next Wednesday; the final two nights of the 2010 season will be Friday and Saturday.  Post time is 6:40 pm.

News release from Batavia Downs:

Owner-trainer Ronald Stebbins Fifty Two Finn solidified his stock for being named Batavia Downs Casino trotter of the year when he went wire-to wire to notch his 6th win of the summer-fall meet, in the featured $8,880 Open trot, on Friday night (Nov.26).
 
John Cummings, Jr., who had four wins on the program, guided the classy 10-year-old Movie Mogul gelding to his 46th lifetime win, holding off a closing Justine Colleen (Jack Flanigen) by a head in 2:00.4, over a racetrack covered in snow.
 
Fifty Two Finn, who made his most recent start at Vernon Downs, was claimed for $15,000 back on September 10 at Tioga Downs. He’s over $60,000 in seasonal earnings and his lifetime bankroll is more than $440,000. He returned $4.90 to win going off as the public choice.
 
Artistry in Rhythm wins Mare Open
Betty Taubers Artistry in Rhythm ($6.40) held off The Grey Filly (Ron Beback, Jr.) in deep stretch to win the co-featured $8,500 Filly and Mares Open pace by a neck in 1:59.2.
 
The 8-year-old Real Desire mare won for the 11th time this season and raised her 2010 earnings to more than $82,000. Ken Holliday was in the bike for his wife Sherri.
 
Trainer Title to Close to Call
After 69 racing programs the battle for the 2010 Downs training title couldn’t be any closer. Sherri Holliday, last years Downs leading conditioner, doubled up on the Friday evening program to tie Ron Beback, Jr. with 57 wins each. In fact there win percentages are identical at 23%.
 
With only three more racing night left in the 2010 campaign, Kevin Cummings maintains a five win lead over Jack Flanigen in the race for dash driving honors. Cummings last years Downs top driver and Flanigen, recently named Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association Western New York Driver of the Year, each drove a pair of winners on Friday program.

The "Comeback Kid," Two Twentytwo, prepping for next week’s $40,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace, once again made it look easy when he notched his fifth win of the summer-fall meet in the $9,000 Preferred Handicap, Saturday night (Oct.9), at Batavia Downs Casino.

Sent off as the prohibitive 1-4 betting favorite, reinsman Jack Flanigen (recovered from his recent tumble) fired the 6-year-old Blissful Hall gelding right to the top and they made every pole a winning one cruising to an underwraps 1:54.2 score. Track announcer Joe Zambito called it a “jogburger.”
 
Compass Connection (Jim McNeight) finished 1-1/2 lengths behind in second, while Oh Gee Whiz (Ray Fisher Jr.) forced to go wide for the second week in a row behind stalled cover wound up third.
 
“He raced really well,” Downs dashing leading driver Jack Flanigen said. “It was a pretty easy win, our game plan was to try and save as much as we could for next week's Kane, and we definitely did that.”
 
“He’s the favorite for Horse of the Year, no doubt about that,” said Mike Kane, vice president of Live Racing. “We wish him well next week.”
 
Two Twentytwo ($2.70) is owned by Dominic Colarusso Jr. and trained by Richie Mays. Saturday night's win was his ninth of season in only 15 starts; he’s earned more than $225,000 lifetime.
 
Two Twentytwo was one of the top-rated 3-year-old pacers before an injury sidelined him for more than a year.
 
Rockin Ronny was Rockin
Two Twentytwo wasn’t the only one that had a big Saturday night. Veteran reinsman Ron Beback Jr. was red-hot, guiding home five winners on the 12-program including four from his own barn. Beback is currently second in the trainer standings before Sherri Holliday.
 
Kevin Cummings well on his way to 3,000 career wins scored a hat trick while Ray Fisher Jr. notched a double. Trainer Jim Graham conditioned a pair of winners.
 
Bring on the Cannolis
A Columbus Day tradition returned to Batavia Downs on Monday afternoon, the annual Italian/American drivers' race. The Downs regularly raced on Columbus Day but Monday will be the first Columbus Day program held since Western OTB purchased the historic track in 1998.
 
Carded as race seven, Tom Agosti drove favored Encil from the rail; however, Mike Caprio, a three-time winner of his event, was one to watch.

Batavia Downs congratulated Cyndy Stranges, of Lockport, for winning its $1,000 Handicapping Contest held Oct. 9! She bested 267 other contestants with a top score of 44 points to claim the $500 top prize.

Mark Angora, of Rochester, finished just a point behind to claim second place and $250.
 
Three contestants each finished with 42 points, Allan Wallace, Jean Liddell and LuAnn Furano.
 
Via the tiebreaker -- $2 to win on each winner selected during the nine-race contest -- Wallace’s tiebreaker total of $44.70 vaulted him into third place, good for $125. Liddell’s tiebreaker total of $40.20 bested Furano’s $38.20. They won $75 and $50 respectively.
 
All prize money can be picked up beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at Players Club.