by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Buffalo Raceway begins its final week of
the 2017 campaign on Wednesday night (July 19) but there's plenty on the line
the last four racing days.
The Championship Claiming Series finals will be run
throughout the week with the filly and mare pacers going at it on Wednesday
night in two classifications. There will be two trotting brackets that will be
contested on Friday evening while the horse and gelding pacers will battle in
four title events on Saturday evening.
Closing day on Sunday will feature the New York Sire Stakes
for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters along with Excelsior A and B Series
races.
All eyes will be on trainer Kimberly Asher who has 113
victories on the year at Buffalo Raceway. She is just eight wins behind the
all-time mark of 121 set in 2011 by Sherri Holliday.
Asher ranks seventh nationally in training wins with 117 and
leads the UTR (300-499 starts) category with an astounding .469.
Larry Stalbaum has wrapped of the driving title with 192
wins but is less than $5,000 from going over the $1 million in purse earnings.
Also up for grabs during the final week will be Pacer of the
Year and Trotter of the Year honors as several candidates for these awards
trying to make their final impressions.
Saturday night is Erie County Fair Night at the track with
fans having the opportunity to win tickets and prizes all night long.
Wednesday's 10-race card gets underway at 5 p.m. with an
$882 carryover in the Pick-5 starting in the second race. Friday will also have
a 5 p.m post with Saturday getting underway at 6 p.m. and Sunday's matinee
starting at 12:30 p.m.
A reminder as well that simulcasting at Buffalo Raceway will
end on Sunday but will resume after the Erie County Fair is over in mid-August.
For more information including the latest news, upcoming
promotions, race replays and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
