by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- "We are very pleased with the
numbers, especially with the live on-track handle," Director Of Operations
Jon Cramer said looking back on Buffalo Raceway 2019 season that just came to a
close on Saturday night (July 20).
Cramer stated, "Our live handle was up 22 percent and
our export handle was up 11 percent." He said the big increases were based
on several factors. "The new condition sheet was a huge success, field
sizes were up while purses were distributed to many horsemen. Dave Dylo and his
crew did and outstanding job with the track the entire meet. A new menu and
added service in the clubhouse all contributed to a very successful
season."
Billy Davis Jr. won his first driving title in the United
States with 119 victories at Buffalo Raceway. He beat Kevin Cummings who
finished second with 97 and Drew Monti who posted 87. Davis Jr., who owns
driving championships at Clinton Raceway, Flamboro Downs and Georgian Downs,
was the top purse earner with $749,076.
"I felt like it was consistency," Davis Jr. said
the key to winning the crown was. "I would have good weeks and 'good'
weeks. I got lucky and drove for some great trainers and never would've had the
run I like did if it wasn't for them. The title is a nice feather in my cap and
maybe it will lead to more opportunities in the future."
James Clouser Jr. made it two straight training titles as he
collected 56 wins and $417,099 in purse earnings. He finished with a gaudy .417
rating. Maria Rice ended in the second place tie with Gerry Sarama as each
conditioner had 50 victories. Rice's charges made $332,129 and Sarama's crew
$351,874 in winnings.
Western Passage took "Pacer Of The Year' honors as the
4-year-old gelding started his season in the Class D level and eventually
climbed to the Open Pace. Owned by Finocchario's Dream Stable and trained by
Mike Ohol, Western Passage (Sportswriter-Ever Western) won six times with three
seconds and a third in 17 outings, earning $40,032.
Wheels A Turning (Mr Cantab-Free Wheeling) was the pick for
'Trotter Of The Year' as the 5-year-old mare notched six wins in 12 tries at
Buffalo Raceway, making $42,170. She is co-owned by the Burke Racing Stable LLC
and Weaver Bruscemi LLC) and is conditioned by Clouser Jr.
During the meet, there were two milestones reached. Trainer JD
Perrin hit the 1,000 career win mark on June 1 as Cheyenne Louie posted the
victory in the 10th race while Davis Jr. went over the $20 million in career
earnings on the July 5 program.
There were three track records broken and two tied during
the season. Lady London (Billy Davis Jr.) smashed a pair of marks in one race
when she toured the Hamburg half-mile oval in 1:53.2 on May 1. That clocking
set both the all-age filly/mare and aged (5+) mare pacing records.
Fashion Hill got into the history book on July 3 with a
1:55.3 time for Tyler Buter and claimed the 2-year-old filly pacer standard.
Gia Surreal (Jim Morrill Jr.) equaled the 3-year-old filly
pacer record with a 1:53.3 which tied the mark set by Mosquito Blue Chip in
2015.
Amal Hall (Jason Bartlett) tied the 3-year-old filly
trotting barrier on June 23 with a 1:57 which was first produced by Fury Road
in 2018. Ironically, Amal Hall still holds the 2-year-old filly trotting mark
of 1:59 she established last year.
On the season, the post time favorites hit at a 41.09
percent clip.
As expected the one post garnered the most wins on the
season with 177 in 735 starts while the two hole was next with 125 victories
and the four position 123. The inside spot was in the money 60 percent of the
time.
As for next season, Cramer said, "We are looking to
continue and improve the experience here at Buffalo Raceway."
Racing will resume in January of 2020. For more information
including the latest news, race replays, results, upcoming promotions and simulcast
schedule, go to www.buffaloraceway.com
