Batavia, NY — James V. Compton, 80, passed away on September 13, 2022.

Mr. Compton was born on February 17, 1942 in Batavia, New York to the late Cecil and Alice Compton of East Pembroke, New York. He received his education at Corfu High School and worked as a milkman in the days of home delivery, then as a machinist before going to General Motors in Rochester, where he would retire.

Mr. Compton also loved horses and that led him to become involved in harness racing at Batavia Downs. He first got his license in 1972 and became both a successful driver and trainer that competed at several tracks in upstate New York. Early in his career he raced mostly claimers but starting in the early 1990’s he experienced some real success.

First came Held For Ransom who was an Open pacer that Compton both trained and drove and eventually won 51 races along with $125,115 in purses. Then when Held For Ransom’s racing career was over, Compton and his wife Sandra bred him to one of their retired race mares, suspicion Burns, and the result was his most notable horse, Michael Scores.

Michael Scores (1:50.4, $668,079) started out as a New York Sire Stake star and went on to be an overnight Open legend and will forever be considered one of the greatest pacers to come out of western New York. Out of 275 lifetime starts, Michael Scores won 86 races, finished second 47 times and third 27 more. His biggest win came in 2006 when he captured the Kane Memorial pace at Batavia Downs and set a new all-time track record of 1:52.1.

A short list of other notable horses campaigned by Mr. Compton include 55-race winner Gasper Again (1:53.4, $165,975), 50-race winner Splurging Rita (1:58.2, $161,231) and Sly Hi (1:56.1, $70,953).

During his career, Mr. Compton compiled some impressive numbers. As a driver he had 522 wins, 459 seconds and 367 thirds out of only 2725 starts, giving him a stellar .330 UDR and $1,137,716 in earnings. As a trainer he had 2,892 starts with 578 wins, 483 seconds and 385 thirds that gave him a .337 UTR and $1,934,431 in earnings.

Mr. Compton is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Sandra L. Compton; his children, Kevin Compton of E Bethany, Roger Compton and his wife, Cheryl of Bloomfield NJ, Cheryl Squire and her husband, Timothy of Wakefield NC, Jeanne Palmer and her husband, Albert of Warsaw NY.

Mr. Compton also has 6 grandchildren; Taylor Squire, Rachael Boynton, Aaron Pahuta, Allyssa Compton-Disla, Michael Compton and Amanda Palmer; 2 great-grandchildren, Addison Gregg and Ethan Boynton; sister-in-law, Grace Compton; brother-in-law, Wayne Speed; Patty Beverly and her family, John Nelson and his family, Geri Puma and her family, along with many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Mr. Compton is predeceased by his siblings, Phillip Compton, Richard Compton and Carol Speed, as well as his grandson, Zachary Squire.

Family and friends may call on Sunday (Sept. 18) from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Falcone Family Funeral & Cremation Service Inc., 8700 Lake St. Rd. (Rt. 19), LeRoy, New York. His Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday (Sept. 19) at 11:00 a.m. at Northgate Free Methodist Church, 8160 Bank St. Rd., Batavia, New York. Interment will follow in Hillside Cemetery, East Pembroke, New York.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — After winning two straight top paces for fillies and mares at Batavia Downs, Shallow was handicapped by post eight and seven the following two weeks and did not hit the board. This week she caught a short field but still had to dig deep to win the $15,000 Open I pace for fillies and mares on Wednesday evening (Sept. 14).

They were three deep into the first turn when Shallow (Ray Fisher Jr.) out-tussled So Admirable (Jim Morrill Jr.) for the lead motoring to the quarter in :28.2. But Morrill wasn’t content with a pocket trip and pulled So Admirable in front of the stands and took control of the top before they hit the half in :58.1.

Heading past the five-eighths, Tres Chic Bluechip (Kevin Cummings) pulled first-up but couldn not get closer than third on the rim as So Admirable was stretching out to a 2-¼ length advantage by the three-quarters. Heading into the lane, Shallow ducked into the passing lane while Tres Chic Bluechip went outside of So Admirable, making it three across the track. They stayed even for several strides but Shallow got the advantage in deep stretch and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.

Shallow ($10.40) hit double digits in the win category, now sporting 10 victories in 2022 and they earned $82,616 for her owner Room4040 LLC Stables. Andy Gardner trains the winner.

In the $11,000 upper-level conditioned event also written for distaff participants, Faithful Desire (Jim Morrill Jr.) drafted perfectly behind Misty Memory N (Dave McNeight III) through fractions of :29, :59.3 and 1:27.3 before tipping off cover and pacing home in a stiff :27.4 to win by one-half length in 1:55.3.

Scoring her second win in the last three starts and sixth win of the year, Faithful Desire ($5.00) is owned by Crazy Parrot Farm and is trained by Shawn McDonough.

Faithful Desire was the fourth win of the night for Morrill, who led all drivers for output on Wednesday. Tom Mays led all trainers for wins with two.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Sept. 16) with post time at 6 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track’s website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the “Live Racing” tab.

By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Taking full advantage of a soft second quarter, Just Plain Loco hit the gas in the second half and put away the field in the $15,000 Open I Handicap pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 10).

Dave McNeight III left hard with Just Plain Loco, seated fellow leaver Stratosphere (Drew Monti) in the first turn and then took the field to the quarter in :27.4. With the six horse field staying single file from there, McNieght grabbed leather and backed off the second panel to :30.1 and that was the game changer. Surfer Beach (Jack Rice) made the first over move and tried to advance towards the leader, but Just Plain Loco had another plan in mind.

He sped to three quarters in 1:25.3 and put some distance between himself and the field before heading into the last turn. At the top of the stretch Just Plain Loco had a two length advantage and a lot left in the tank as he paced home in 1:53.1, which was just one fifth of a second off his season’s best effort.

It was the seventh win of the year for Just Plain Loco ($4.30) who is owned by Paul Lang and Mark Toth. Jennifer Giuliani trains the winner.

McNeight had two wins during the night.

The $14,000 Open II Handicap pace was a real slugfest and only the photo finish camera could separate three horses at the wire.

Drunkonaplane (Jack Rice) left and got the cold shoulder from the pylon-starter Yankee On The Move (Kyle Cummings). The two went at it through quarters of :27.3 and :56.1 before Ideal Artillery (Drew Monti) rolled up first in the breeze and tipped three wide around the fading Drunkonaplane at the five-eighths pole.

Ideal Artillery then hooked up with Yankee On The Move at three-quarters and they paced in unison around the far turn and into the stretch. It was there that American Trademark (Keith Kash) shook loose and made it three across the track. Under heavy urging, the trio battled all the way to the line where Ideal Artillery got a nose in front to win in 1:53.4.

Ideal Artillery ($5.70) is owned by Howard and Michael Ouriel and is trained by Don Rothfuss.

Kevin Cummings was the top driver on Saturday with three wins during the proceedings.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Sept. 14) with post time at 6 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track’s website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the “Live Racing” tab.

By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — The New York Sire Stakes made their third visit to Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Aug. 3) and featured the 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings who competed for a total of $107,000 in purses. The highlight of the night was when Human Cocktail (Huntsville-Losta Matzah) rallied late to win the second $53,500 division in 1:53.3 and set a new Batavia Downs track record for 2-year-old pacing colts.

Kid From The Bronx (Mark Macdonald) left hard and led by a gapped three length margin through panels of :27.1 and :55.3 with Human Cocktail (Jim Morrill Jr.) and Its A Me Mario (Jason Bartlett) trying to keep pace. Moving past five-eighths Its A Me Mario came with a rush and took the lead from Kid From The Bronx at three-quarters but the race was far from won.

Around the last turn Kid From The Bronx fought back and as the two were stacked up, forced Human Cocktail to go three-wide heading into the stretch. As Kid From The Bronx and Its A Me Mario began to tire, Human Cocktail rolled past them both in the middle of the track and pulled away to a ½ length victory over the fast closing Thunder Hunter Joe (Austin Siegleman) in 1:53.3, which was also a new lifetime mark.

After moving up from Excel “A” action, it was the first NYSS win for Human Cocktail ($3.90) and owner Stephen Demeter, who also bred the winner along with Blue Chip Bloodstock and Daniel Zucker. Gareth Dowse trains the colt.

Earlier there was a major upset in the first $53,500 split as Huntinthelastdolar (Huntsville-Eighthunrddolarbill) upended the 1-9 favorite American Fling with a strong stretch finish.

American Fling (Jason Bartlett) went right to the front while Huntinthelastdolar (Doug McNair) settled in second for a perfect trip. American Fling went :27.4 and :58.3 on top by three lengths at the half where Johnny Sack (Mark Macdonald) pulled first-over and tried to move into contention.

With the added pressure from the outside American Fling sped up the third panel and Huntinthelastdolar started gapping in the hole, but that all changed again in the last turn. Johnny Sack began to fade and Huntinthelastdolar was tight again on American Fling’s back. When the passing lane opened, McNair dipped into it with Huntinthelastdolar and paced away from the tiring American Fling to win by 1-½ lengths in a lifetime best 1:55 1.

It was the first lifetime start and NYSS victory by Huntinthelastdolar ($19.20) for his owners Steve Heinbacker and Gregg McNair, who also trains the colt. Crawford Farms bred  Huntinthelastdolar.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 6) with post time at 6:00 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track’s website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the “Live Racing” tab.

By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs