Batavia, NY — Despite high winds and a sloppy track, Itsallaboutfaith N blazed a trail from start to finish to claim his second straight $13,000 Open Handicap pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Feb. 6) afternoon. 

Brett Beckwith put Itsallaboutfaith N on the point and fought 40 MPH headwinds while setting fractions of :28.3, :59.2 and 1:28.4 with the favored Primo Uomo (Joe Chindano Jr.) drafting in second and the rest of the field struggled to keep up. The top two peeled away from the group as they made their way around the last turn. When the pair entered the homestretch, Primo Uomo tipped and tried to catch the leader. But  Itsallaboutfaith N just kept on going and won by 1-¼ lengths in 1:57.3, which was the fastest clocking of the night. 

Itsallaboutfaith N ($6.00) is owned by PT Stable and trained by Gareth Dowse. 

Beckwith ended the day with a total of three driving wins. 

In the co-featured $13,000 Open Handicap trot, My One Percent made his second foray into the top class a winning one after tripping-out to a one length victory. 

Kyle Cummings put My One Percent in the pocket behind Missile (Brett Beckwith) and took his cover through quarters of :29.3, 1:00.1 and 1:30 while Double Class (Dave McNeight III) was parked on the outside. After making his way through the last turn, Cummings sent My One Percent into the passing lane and went right by Missile and continued to trot smartly to the line where he won in 1:59.4.

It was the third win in only four 2025 starts for My One Percent ($6.10) who is owned by Steve and Nancy Pratt and trained by Kirk Desmond. 

There was also a $17,500 Trackmaster series final for the TM 78 group that was won by Mauries Bonus A, who Joe Chindano Jr. pulled from fifth at the half, tipped three-wide at three-quarters and all around the last turn before scooting home a game winner by 1-½ lengths in 2:02.2.

Mauries Bonus A ($16.60) is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags and trained by Maria Rice. 

Kevin Cummings also had three driving wins on Thursday, two of which were trained by Sam Smith. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday (Feb. 10) at 3:00 p.m. with a $3,529 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 13th race. 

Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Even though the weather was ice cold, driver Joe Chindano Jr. was red hot at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Jan. 9) afternoon as he won a total of six races on the card, including a natural hat trick in races 13, 14 and 15 to close out the day’s action.

Chindano scored with Lyons Johnnyjnr (1:58.1, $4.50), Communion Money (1:58.3, $5.00), Littelbitaswagger (1:57.3, $7.00), Da Ghetto wizard (1:56, $4.80), Flames Of Fire (2:00.2, $3.70) and Legal Bettor (1:56.3, $9.60). Chindano also had a second and a third from his 11 drives, giving him a stellar .626 UDR for the program.

Chindano’s first, fourth and fifth winners were trained by Candace Brandstatter-Hall, who led all trainers for the day with her triple. 

Two races Chindano did not win were the pair of feature races that had solid miles turned in by both winners, despite the winter conditions. 

The pacers lined up first in their $13,000 Open Handicap and Melanion N (Drew Monti) picked up where he left off at Batavia last December, which was in the winner’s enclosure, after returning from a short, unsuccessful excursion to Ohio before Christmas. 

Melanion N got away last off the gate while Mach Le More A (Dave McNeight III) dashed to the half in :58.3 on the point. Heading onto the second circuit, Primo Oumo (Jim McNeight Jr.) moved first-over from fourth and Monti followed with Melanion N, one out and one back in fourth. Approaching three-quarters, Melanion N was sent three-deep to the front and took that position into the stretch. As the race was heading for home, Melanion N bolted away by 2-¼ lengths to win easily in 1:55.3. 

Melanion N ($2.70) is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags, Team Rice Racing and Dr. Michael Miller and trained by Maria Rice. 

Monti and Rice also scored with Lip Reader A ($4.10) for Vogel and Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing in the $11,000 upper-level conditioned pace in 1:55.2. Monti finished the night with a total of three wins. 

Later in the card, the trotters lined up for their $13,000 Open Handicap tilt and the Saratoga Raceway invader, Malibu Kid (Larry Stalbaum), took a lot of air before firmly planting his flag at the finish line.

Johnny Boy (Kevin Cummings) was the commander of fractions from the start, going :28.4 and :59.3 to the half with Discus Hanover (Drew Monti) drafting in the garden spot. Stalbaum had Malibu Kid out and rolling from fifth before that point and was now third on the outside heading into turn three. Malibu Kid continued to grind in the breeze and made his way to second at three-quarters as Johnny Boy clung to the front heading around the last bend. When they straightened for home, Johnny Boy, Malibu Kid and Discus Hanover were all within a length of each other and it was a cavalry charge to the line. As they entered deep stretch, Malibu Kid got up in time and claimed a measured 1-¼ length victory in 1:58.1.

Malibu Kid ($4.80) is owned by Shark Racing and trained by his driver, Stalbaum. 

The Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta was hit in race 15. The single unique combination of 2-1-3-6-9 returned $1,866.80 for a 20-cent wager.  

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday (Jan. 13) at 3:00 p.m. 

Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — The 2024 racing season wrapped up at Batavia Downs last Saturday (Dec. 7) night and that also closed the track’s books for the year. After all the paperwork was finalized, the bottom line showed that the business of harness racing at Batavia Downs is operating at a record pace.

The overall handle at Batavia Downs for both the winter and summer/fall meets came in at $16,826,483, which is a 9.2% increase over 2023 that saw a total handle of $15,414,846. Plus this year’s handle was the highest recorded at the track since Western Regional Off Track Betting began running the racing operation in 2002.

That 9.2% increase is quite notable on its merits alone, but it also stands out in the crowd in a year where the overall handle at harness tracks across North America is down a collective 6.66%.

Don Hoover is the Director of Live Racing at Batavia Downs and he was very  satisfied with the results, and was quick to mention everyone whose hard work made it happen.

“2024 was another record handle year for Batavia Downs and ended up surpassing our previous record set just last year. Once again, it was a total team effort from the entire staff at Batavia Downs with special thanks going to the live racing staff, track maintenance, simulcast, group sales, marketing, track management and of course, the horsemen and horse women who put on the show every night. They provided very competitive racing and proof of that was favorites winning only 44.5% of the time, which rates among the lowest in the industry at any half mile track in North America. Back to back record years is noteworthy, but so was the all time record $75,000 guaranteed pool we had on Nov. 13 that also produced a record payoff. Plus the track distributed over $7 million in overnight purses to our owners, trainers and drivers this year,” said Hoover.

There will be only a short amount of time for the track to sit on this year’s laurels as the break in the action at the Genesee County oval will be brief. Live racing returns to Batavia Downs on Monday (Jan. 6) for the start of the 15-day 2025 winter meet, the third consecutive overcoat session the track has hosted. Racing will be held every Monday and Thursday through Monday (Feb. 24) with all cards having a 3 p.m. post.

By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Even though it was getaway day at Batavia Downs as the curtain came down on the 2024 summer/fall meeting on Saturday (Dec. 7) night, the competition was fast and furious during a card that saw drivers Kevin Cummings and Dave McNeight III win five races each while trainer Sam Smith sent four from his stable to the winner’s enclosure on a night he was awarded as top conditioner of the meet. 

Cummings winners included Runrunjimmydunn N (1:55.2, $6.30), Out On Bail (1:55.2, $3.50), Johnny Boy (1:58.1, $14.00) and Famous Dan (1:58.3, $3.20), all of which were trained by Smith, and Crystal Beach (1:57.4, $48.20). 

McNeight’s successful contingent was made up of Our Night Fury (1:59.2, $6.70), Skyline Blue Chip (1:58.3, $3.20), Mach Le More A (1:56.2, $36.20) who will be covered more later, Shipsaway (1:57, $2.50) and Mason Street (1:59.2, $12.60). 

There were co-featured $14,000 races on the closing card and the trot was won by another award winner. 

After going 0 for 8 last year in a less than memorable season, Dougadougadew did a complete 180 and capped-off 2024 with his 12th win of the year while matching his career best time in the Open Handicap trot on the night when he was named the Trotter of the Meet at Batavia Downs. 

In a very typical start for the chestnut trotter, Dougadougadew (Kyle Cummings) got away last by 10 lengths as El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) parked out the visiting Big Box Hanover (Larry Stalbaum) in fast fractions of :28.1 and :57 through the cold, blustery night. As the race headed onto the second circuit, Biscoe (Jim McNeight Jr.) made a first-over move and Dougadougadew was happy to take the cover, one out and one back. 

As the race headed towards three-quarters, Big Box Hanover succumbed to the overland grind, forcing Biscoe and Dougadougadew three-wide into the final bend. Biscoe crossed over and Dougadougadew drew alongside and the final furlong became a match race. Biscoe was maintaining his lead, but Dougadougadew kept digging and getting closer with every stride and four pylons from the line, Dougadougadew edged ahead and won by a neck in 1:57.1, tying his lifetime mark.

Dougadougadew ($7.80) made it an even dozen victories and pushed his seasonal bankroll to $85,877 for owners Doug and Tyra Ackley and trainer Tammy Cummings. 

Then in the Open Handicap pace, Mach Le More A upset the field in a blanket finish at 17-1. 

Mach Le More A (Dave McNeight III) got away sixth as Virgil N (Mike Baumeister) got the field to the half in a tepid :58.4. Bet On Blake (Kevin Cummings) moved into second from a first-over move in turn three while Mach Le More A drafted, fourth on the outside. Positions remained unchanged to three-quarters and Virgil N even started to pull away from the group in the last turn. But Mach Le More A, who was still fourth and three lengths from the leader, had different ideas as he tipped to the middle of the track and mowed down the competition at the wire where he won by a head in 1:56.2 in a photo that saw a mere length separate the top six finishers. 

It was the second straight win and ninth of the season for Mach Le More A ($36.20) who pushed his earnings to $91,580 this year for owner Marissa Russo and Fac Racing. Dave Russo does the training. 

The $10,000 guaranteed Jackpot Hi-5 pool with an end of season must-pay in the 15th race produced an outstanding payoff to those who caught the number. The 9-1-3-5-2 combination returned $2,120,20 for a 20-cent wager.

As alluded to earlier in this report, meet ending awards were presented by the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs during their Night of Distinction ceremony. Longtime Batavia blacksmith Ray Cable received a Lifetime Achievement Award, Drew Monti and Sam Smith were named driver and trainer of the meet, Dougadougadew was trotter of the meet and Won Surreal Deal was pacer of the meet. All awards were presented trackside to the respective recipients and their connections. 

Although the 2024 meet has ended, the track won’t be dark for long as live racing returns to Batavia Downs on Monday (Jan. 6) for the start of the 15-day 2025 winter meet. Racing will be held every Monday and Thursday through Monday (Feb. 24) with all cards having a 3 p.m. post.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — The Jackpot Super Hi-5 at Batavia Downs has not been hit in several days and as a result, the carryover has grown to $4,723 after Wednesday’s action. With the meet coming to an end on Saturday (Dec. 7), this must be paid out and the track has guaranteed that pool at $10,000 through the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.

As part of the program, Trackmaster is offering free full past performance program pages on the USTA website that can be found under the Handicapping link at the top of the page.  

The Jackpot Super Hi-5 at Batavia Downs is a 20-cent minimum wager in the 15^th race on Saturday with an estimated post time of 10:40 p.m. Post time for the first race is at 6 p.m. And as always, free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — The Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs have announced the horses of the meet at The Downs, whose meet will conclude on Saturday (Dec. 7).

Dougadougadew (Deweycheatumnhowe-Fashionablefilly) has been named trotter of the meet while Won Surreal Deal (So Surreal-Won Ideal Night) has been named pacer of the meet.

Dougadougadew is the highest earning horse at Batavia this meet regardless of gait with $51,315 in earnings and is also the winningest trotter on the grounds with seven victories. He started the meet in lower level conditioned races and worked his way to the top, winning his first of three Open class trots on September 7. For the meet, Dougadougadew has made 17 starts with seven wins, three seconds and one third that give him a 41% win rate while finishing 65% of the time in the money. He also took a lifetime mark of 1:57.1 at The Downs on November 2 to cap off a career year.

Dougadougadew races from off the pace and his three and four wide three-quarter moves have provided a number of exciting finishes over the course of the meet. He is trained by Tammy Cummings and driven by Kyle Cummings for owners Doug and Tyra Ackley.

Won Surreal Deal is the highest earning pacer at this meet, banking $43,750 off of her six wins and four thirds registered from her 14 total starts. She is an upper-level mare who has won three Open paces for distaff participants while hitting the board in that elite class five other times. Her most impressive victory came early on August 13, when she bolted away to a seven length victory in 1:53.4. But the consistent side-wheeler remained a horse to beat through the entire meet as she finished her campaign winning four of her last six starts at Batavia.

Won Surreal Deal has a stellar win rate of 43% and has been in the money 71% of the time for trainer Jeff Sorenson and driver Kyle Cummings, who steered her in 13 of her 14 Batavia starts for owner Parsimonious Racing Stable.

The connections of Dougadougadew and Won Surreal Deal will be presented their awards trackside during the UNY-USHWA Night of Distinction that will be held at Batavia Downs on closing night, Saturday (Dec. 7). 

By Tim Bojarski, president of UNY-USHWA

Batavia, NY — The final $13,000 fillies and mares Open Handicap pace of the year was featured at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Dec. 4) night and Won Surreal Deal (Kyle Cummings) laid claim to the victory despite dealing with a steady snowfall. 

Won Surreal Deal got away fourth as It’s Corona Time (Joe Chindano Jr.) marched to the half in :57.2. It was there that Scenic Adventure (Kevin Cummings) pulled first-over into the breeze and Won Surreal Deal followed behind, one out and one back. Scenic Adventure continued to gain ground to three-quarters where she took the lead from It’s Corona Time, while Won Surreal Deal kept getting closer around the last turn. When they entered the stretch, Won Surreal Deal hooked up with Scenic Adventure and the two mares battled to the wire where Won Surreal Deal got the advantage and won by a neck in 1:56.2. 

It was the eighth win of the year for Won Surreal Deal ($5.30) who is owned by Parsimonious Racing Stable and trained by Jeff Sorenson. 

Joe Chindano Jr. was the top driver on Wednesday after he scored a grand slam in the bike, including a natural hat trick in races four, five and six. Chindano won with Shooting Brooke (1:55.2, $2.60), Miss Rockadali (1:58.4, $6.30), Jacked (1:58.3, $2.50) and Spirit Of Success (2:02, $7.70). 

In the night’s 11th race,14-year-old Knocking Around (1:59.3, $2.60) won the 60th race of his illustrious 12-year career for driver Dave McNeight III. Owned by Courtney McNeight and trained by Dave McNeight Jr., Knocking around has made 394 lifetime starts with now 60 wins, 48 seconds and 69 thirds and has earned $668,693 due to his stellar work. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Dec. 7), which is closing night for 2024, with post time at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a $4,723 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 15th race. And since this is the last night of racing for 2024 and the Jackpot Super Hi-5 will be a must-pay to end the season, the pool will also be guaranteed at $10,000 through the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering program.  

Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page. 

Batavia Downs will return after the Holidays on Monday (Jan. 6) for the start of the 15-day 2025 winter meet. Racing will be held every Monday and Thursday through Monday (Feb. 24) with all cards having a 3 p.m. post.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — The Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs have announced that Drew Monti and Sam Smith are the top driver and trainer for the summer/fall race meet at the Genesee County oval whose season will conclude on Saturday (Dec. 7).

Monti entered the final week of racing at Batavia with an insurmountable lead in the dash driving race with 117 wins, 19 ahead of Joe Chindano Jr. (98) and 24 ahead of Kevin Cummings (93). He also has had 86 seconds and 79 thirds from 562 starts that gives him a .340 UDR, the highest among all drivers at the current meet who have started 150 times or more. And those starts have earned the horses he has driven $790,221 in purses with two race days left in the meet.   

Monti also hit two career milestones during the Batavia meet. He scored his 2,500^th win and surpassed $20 million in lifetime earnings.

While he also drives full time at Plainridge Park, Monti has posted one of the best overall years of his career to date. After 1,606 starts he has won a total of 235 races with 234 seconds and 196 thirds with $2,211,936 in purses, a total which by the end of the meet will be his third highest haul ever.

This is the third driving title Monti has won at Batavia Downs after taking it in 2016 and 2018.

Similarly, Smith came into the last two days of racing well in front of his competition after already having posted 67 wins, which is 24 ahead of Chris Petrelli (43) and 40 ahead of Shawn McDonough (27) and Maria Rice (27). Smith also had 42 seconds and 53 thirds giving him a .302 UTR and $469,988 in purses.

For all of 2024 including starts at other tracks, Smith has put up career numbers across the board. His horses have made 803 starts with 151 wins, 118 seconds and 115 thirds, giving him a UTR of .317 and earnings of $1,158,721. It’s the single best year in Smith’s training tenure.

This is the second consecutive training title for Smith at Batavia Downs.

Drew Monti and Sam Smith will be presented their awards trackside during the UNY-USHWA Night of Distinction that will be held at Batavia Downs on closing night, Saturday (Dec. 7).

By Tim Bojarski, president of UNY-USHWA

Batavia, NY — The Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association is proud to announce that longtime western New York blacksmith, Ray Cable, will be given their 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award for his over 60-years of work and dedication to the horses who raced at Batavia Downs.

Cable was born on March 12, 1945 in Effingham, Illinois and followed his father Phillip’s footsteps into the farrier business. He started shoeing at age 12 as an apprentice with his father, who shod horses at race tracks on the Grand Circuit along with many county fairs across the country from their mobile truck shop before coming to Batavia to set up permanently in 1960. Since then, Cable has run his blacksmith shop on the grounds of Batavia Downs ever since.

Cable has shod thousands of horses over the years and from every class ranging from the bottom claimers to the top competing in the Open, from the barns of trainers across the U.S. as well as Canada. Cable has shod some of the best in the business including the locally owned Bay’s Fella (1:51.1, $805,234) who won the $273,458 Breeders Crown Open Pace in 1990.

Ray Cable is one of  four brothers that included Chuck, Phillip and Leon, who all became outstanding farriers. Ray’s son, Ray Jr. is also an accomplished farrier and his grandsons Kelly and Chris, who are now both shoeing as well, make up the fourth generation of “Cable shoers”.  

Ray Cable will be presented his award trackside during the UNY-USHWA Night of Distinction that will be held at Batavia Downs on the closing night of the meet, Saturday, December 7. 

By Tim Bojarski, president of UNY-USHWA