HAMBURG,
N.Y. --- The old adage goes "Times are a changing."
That
cliche definitely holds true for Buffalo Raceway as new post times will greet
fans for the 90-day meet which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, January 13
at 5 p.m.
Wednesday
nights will remain at 5 p.m. but Friday evening cards will now begin at 5 p.m.
as well. The action on Saturdays moves to 6 p.m. and when Sunday afternoon
racing commences on June 19, the horses will be off at 12:30 p.m. The season
ends on July 24.
"We
changed the first post because the export business will be better,"
Buffalo Raceway Operations Director Jon Cramer said. "We've found that
earlier is better."
Another major change the fans will notice is
the race announcer. Peter Berry, who has called the races at Mountaineer Park
since 2004, will be behind the microphone until mid-April when the West
Virginia thoroughbred track reopens.
"Peter
is an A+ announcer by anyone's standards and we are pleased to have him
here," Buffalo Raceway Chief Operation Officer Jim Mango said. "He's
a world-class announcer and a major addition for us. We are thrilled."
The
track itself continues to be upgraded as another 2,000 tons of material was
added to the 6,000 tons put down last season.
"We
continue work on the race track and high grades on that go to the track
crew," Cramer said. "It's a difficult job to keep the track like that
in the winter."
The
backstretch area continues to get rave reviews according to Mango. "We
continue to get great comments on the barn area and I think it's the finest
stable area in harness racing."
Buffalo
Raceway filled over the 300 stalls on-track that were available.
Racing
behind the trotters and pacers will include Kevin Cummings who will be back in
search of his third consecutive driving title. He registered 202 victories in
2015 at Buffalo Raceway, just missing the all-time mark set by Jim Morrill Jr.
of 214 in 2006.
Some
others ready to take a shot at the driver's crown will be the 'Young Guns' consisting
of Drew Monti, David McNeight III and Shawn McDonough. Monti finished in second
place last year in wins with 140.
On the
trainer's side, JD Perrin returns and will be looking for his fourth straight
championship. He posted 70 victories last year and is fresh off winning the
title at Batavia Downs.
John
Mungillo, David McNeight Jr. and James Clouser Jr. will also have strong barns
and look to break Perrin's streak. Craig Gilmour's barn makes its first
appearance at Buffalo Raceway after competing at Batavia Downs in the fall.
The
Niatross Knockout Claiming Series, a favorite among the fans, owners, trainers
and drivers, will also return in 2016, starting on Saturday, February 6. It's a
chance for lower-priced claiming pacers to move up and win some nice purses but
face the possibility of being taken at a higher tag as the series moves along
or being eliminated if they don't finish in the top four. The finals are
scheduled for Saturday, February 27.
A new wrinkle added to the racing menu as
well is the 'Buffalo Raceway Claiming Championships' which will be contested
throughout the meet. The first half will run from opening night until Kentucky
Derby Day on Saturday, May 7 and the second half goes from Derby Day until
Saturday, July 23.
"There are seven different divisions
and every time you race in a specific claiming level, either a boy or girl,
pacer or trotter, you'll will accumulate points just like the purse structure
is broken down...50 points for a win, 25 points for second and so on," stated
Buffalo Raceway Race Secretary Tom Agosti. "The top eight point getters in
each category will come back on Derby Day and race for double what the normal
purse would be for their claiming price. It will keep a lot of interest and
hopefully keep the horses racing." The whole competition will then start
over the next racing day with the finals on Saturday, July 23.
Also new at Buffalo Raceway is a Pick-5
wager which will replace the Pick-4. Starting in the fifth race each evening,
you can wager on the Pick-5 and if no one hits it, the pool will roll over to
the next card.
"The Pick-5 is becoming something of a
fan favorite in harness racing and wanted to offer to our players," Cramer
said.
