Here are my selections for Buffalo Raceway's 12-race Saturday night card with first post time scheduled for 6:40 p.m. You can wager on Buffalo Raceway's card at various locations including Western Region Off-Track Betting and Bet America. GET A $200 BONUS FROM BET AMERICA WHEN OPENING AN ACCOUNT BY CLICKING ON AD HERE. (Get details and open an account by clicking on the advertisement on the right!). Open an account now and bet the Pick-7 at Buffalo!!! Follow the "Handicapping Challenge" between Buffalo Raceway announcer Gabe Prewitt and Brian's Selections. (Gabe leads 183-166 through Friday night.) BET THE PREAKNESS TONIGHT AT BUFFALO RACEWAY!
First race:
2. Redford Hall............................................Loves this level
1. Kiasma....................................................Drops to lower rung
5. Most Happy Rider...................................Post relief helps
Second race:
4. Feel The Rush.........................................Don't look past this one
3. Holy Smokes..........................................Has seen better
1. Ranger Gus.............................................Rails may make a difference
Third race:
4. American Sway.......................................Sets the pace
2. Sturgeon Seelster....................................Been better lately
5. Catman...................................................Needs a good trip
Fourth race:
2. April Fool...............................................Catch me if you can
6. Beechwood Wayne................................If speed falters
3. Win A New Day....................................Has to wait for another day
Fifth race:
4. Racsan Steve.........................................Overpowers this gang
3. Le Reina Road.......................................Main threat
1. Incredible Ben........................................On a hot streak
Sixth race:
2. Cracker Stoney.....................................Won't look back
4. TL Six Shooter......................................Toss out last
7. Cam Patch............................................Always a threat
Seventh race:
4. King Otra.............................................Regains the crown
6. Goodnite Goodluck..............................Will be battling late
7. Rock On Moe.....................................Sharp Canadian invader
Eighth race:
3. Majestic Lad.......................................Back to winning spot
1. Fancy Foxy.........................................Pylons gives her a chance
4. Tymal Recap.......................................Takes a share
Ninth race:
6. Fantasypan..........................................Gets easier test
4. Art Two D Two..................................Fisher gets this chance
2. Mr. Terror..........................................Feeling better now
Tenth race:
4. Look At The Speed............................Clue in the last race
8. Nifty Prescott.....................................Post is lone issue
5. War And Peace.................................Tough break in previous
Eleventh race:
2. Hesaporsche......................................He's a winner
1. Accountable Lady..............................Maybe the rail is the answer
4. Rocks N Bagels.................................Rounds out the triple
Twelfth race:
3. JK Abigezunt.....................................Better than record shows
5. Hope To Reign A..............................Lots of hope
1. Graymcracker...................................Tags along for third
Best bet: Fantasypan (9th race)
Live longshot: Feel The Rush (2nd race)
Friday night, I had one winner, Isthatallyagot ($4.90) in the sixth. I also hit the sixth race trifecta for $6.40.
I will play a $2 win ticket on all selections plus a $2 cold exacta on each race. I will also play a $1 trifecta key with the winner selected along with $2 daily doubles, $1 cold Pick-3 and Pick-4.
Saturday night's total investment $85.00
Friday night's total winnings: $11.30
Win percentage: 191-for-648 28.9%
Top selection in the money: 379-for-648 64.5%
Bankroll: minus $1,281.50
Racing resumes SATURDAY night at 6:40 p.m.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Buffalo Raceway Weekly Recap...5/12
First, the 23-year-year-old McNeight III, drove 10 winners on the four-day racing week including a five-bagger on Thursday night and a four-bagger on Saturday night.
 |
| Dave McNeight III had 10 wins on the week |
He now has moved into fourth place overall in the driver's standings with 65 victories.
His father in the meantime had a great week training, conditioning six winners including four on Thursday and a pair more on Saturday. He sits solidly in fourth place in the trainer's standings with 34.
While McNeight had 10 winners on the week, John Cummings Jr. and Ray Fisher Jr. also posted 10 victories apiece and continued to cut into the driver's lead of Dan Noble who is now racing in Ohio.
Cummings Jr. had four wins on Wednesday and followed that with a triple on Friday.
Fisher Jr. in the meantime was consistent with triples on Wednesday and Saturday while posting doubles on Thursday and Friday.
There were only 10 different drivers with wins on the week. Jason Merriman got his first of the season at Buffalo Raceway on Thursday night.
Buffalo Raceway Driver's Standings (Wins, UDRS, Earnings)
1. Dan Noble (113, .328, $533,858)
2. John Cummings Jr. (90, .306, $531,645)
3. Ray Fisher Jr. (81, .293, $394, 604)
4. David McNeight III (65, .237, $426,279)
5. Kevin Cummings (59, .232, $382,220)
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While Dave McNeight Jr. registered six training wins, several others had huge weeks as well.
Gerry Sarama inched within eight wins of current training leader John Mungillo after scoring six wins on the week, with doubles on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Milo Zdjelar Jr. and Bob Gruber each produced four winners on the week, John Mungillo and JD Perrin three each while Jim Graham and Bobbi Jo Martin had two.
A total of 26 different trainers had wins.
Buffalo Raceway Training Leaders (Wins, UTRS, Earnings)
1. John Mungillo (48, .305, $241,576)
2. JD Perrin (43, .410, $194,820)
3. Gerry Sarama (40, .331, $252,964)
4. Dave McNeight Jr. (34, .313, $204,527)
5. Jim Graham (28, .224, $153,408)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dontgetinskyway won the $11,000 Open Pace in 1:54.3 for owners the Limerick Racing Stable of Hamburg, NY, Saturday night (May 11). It was the fifth win in 19 attempts this year for Dontgetinskyway.
 |
| Dontgetinskyway (inside) scores win in Open Pace |
Hopskipanajump (Jim McNeight), who was hung on the outside, now had the lead, and tripped the half-mile marker in :56.4.
Down the backstretch the second time, the leaders started to tire, and eventual second place finisher Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) got the jump on the field, and hit the three-quarters in 1:25.3. With a :28.4 last quarter-mile, Dontgetinskyway got up just in time to nip Fireyourguns by a head at the wire. Long shot Adelia’s Prince (Ray Fisher, Jr.) came in third.
Trained by David McNeight, Jr., the $5,500 share of the winning purse put Dontgetinskyway’s season’sUnder The Stars, won the $11,000 Open Trot in 2:01.3, over a sloppy track for owner Michael Calimeri, of Falconer, NY, Friday night.
 |
| Under The Stars wins Open Trot with Jim McNeight in the sulky |
Driver Jim McNeight put Under The Stars ($7.70), the 5/2 second choice in the betting, on the lead and he set all the fractions in the race, :29.4, 1:01, and 1:31.3 to the three-quarter marker.
A :30 last quarter-mile put the winner 3/4 of a length ahead of second place finisher, Hour Lavec (John Cummings, Jr.), at the finish line. Ziegfeld (Dave McNeight III) came in third.
Trained by Jim McNeight, the $5,500 share of the winning purse put Under The Stars’ season earnings at $13,973, and $104,286 lifetime. It was his 17th win in 94 lifetime starts.
In the Fillies and Mares Open Pace on Thursday, Real Joy went gate-to-wire from the seven post and scored the victory in 1:55.4 for driver Jason Merriman and trainer Ron Van Wagoner. V'La Faire, in her first start of the season, finished second with Ray Fisher Jr. in the bike.
Real Joy was the morning line 3-1 favorite but was overlooked by the public and returned $11.20 for the win.
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There were only two claims on the week, both coming on Friday night.
Trotter Berosus was taken for $10,000 by Michael Ouriel and L. Steven Vinik of Rochester with Don Rothfuss the trainer.
The pacer Mister Grin was claimed for $7,500 by Mike Torcello with Gerry Sarama as the trainer.
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Speaking of Real Joy, she now leads all of the horses in wins at Buffalo Raceway on the season with seven. A total of six pacers have six wins on the year.
For the trotters, Armed Dangerously, Clearly Possessed, Zeigfeld and Talladega Hanover each have four trips to the winner's circle.
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The inside was the place to be at Buffalo Raceway this week as of 48 races contested, 20 victories came from the one post, including eight winners on Thursday and another six on Friday. That's an astounding 41.7 percent on the week.
The two hole produced five wins. Out of the 48 races run, 25 came from either the one or two post or a 52.4 percent.
Wins By Post Position
1. 20
2. 5
3. 4
4. 7
5. 7
6. 3
7. 2
8. 0
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For the week, 19 post-time favorites won during the 48 races for a 37.9 percent.
On the season, favorites are winning at a 39.81 percent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The handles for the week had Wednesday taking in $181,586, Thursday night produced $162,550, Friday night took in $153,874 while Saturday night showed $165,655 crossing the windows. The total for the week was $663,665 for a nightly average of $165,916. Last week, $1,054,843 was handled.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Here's an e-mail and new item I received from Betty Holt, the Executive Director of the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State.
"We have received a large volume of calls concerning the health issue at Vernon Downs.
The Harness Horse Breeders of New York State are working with the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund to find the best solution for the New York Sire Stakes program.
There will be no NYSS events in the month of May (including the race set at Buffalo Raceway on May 25th). This includes the Excelsior Stake races.
Efforts are being made to reschedule all the NYSS events in the 28-day quarantine window.
The shipping of horses into the quarantined locations is problematic; but the shipping of NYSS eligible horses out to race is of more immediate concern.
The horse owners paid into the program and we want to give them every opportunity to race their horses.
Naturally, HHBNYS wants to protect the health of all NYSS eligible horses and we feel that delaying the start of the NYSS season will help us achieve that goal.
We hope to have a revised schedule approved by the Agriculture and NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund very soon.
Please pass this information along to all horsemen. We will post a revised schedule on the www.nysirestakes.com and www.hhbnys.com websites when we have more news.
We understand the confusion and are trying to acquire a solution as quickly as possible."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Racing resumes this Wednesday night when a 12-race card going post ward starting at 5 p.m.
Thursday evening racing will continue this week with a 5 p.m. post while Friday and Saturday nights will have a 6:40 p.m. call to post.
Enjoy Happy Hour each night from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. each race night in the clubhouse.
The Preakness Stakes will be held this Saturday as Orb tries for the second jewel in racing's Triple Crown at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore, MD.
Make your reservations for the Preakness now in the clubhouse you won't be shut out. The clubhouse was a sellout on Kentucky Derby Day.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
ABC's Of WNY Harness Racing for 2013
Here are the ABC's for the upcoming 2013 season at Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs. It includes my hopes and expectations for the upcoming year.
A: Ashley Holliday continues to be the outrider at Batavia Downs and also AT Buffalo Raceway for safety sake!
B: Bobbi Jo Martin continuing to be a huge factor in training standings.
C: Casino cash still increasing the purses for horsemen locally.
D: Dan Noble rides the entire season on the Western New York circuit.
E: Exactas, never let my favorite wager go away.
F: Flanigen, Jack strives for another 1,000 in quest for 5,000 wins.
G: Gabe Prewitt and his refreshing race calls at Buffalo Raceway.
H: Hall Of Fame tradition continues in WNY thanks to USHWA.
I: Income for horsemen continue to rising with bigger purses.
J: Jami Chatt and Brittney Ohol battling the men this summer.
K: Ken Holliday...would love to see him back in the sulky.
L: Losing tickets in 2013 are few and far between.
M: McNeight III continues to develop into a top-notch driver in Western New York.
N: New graphics at Buffalo should enhance the simulcast signal this year.
O: Open races at Buffalo Raceway now going for $11,000.
P: Pete Arrigenna for continued success and class, treating the local fans watch his 'babies' develop..
Q: Quit complaining about the Buffalo Raceway food, it's gonna get better.
R: Ron Beback Jr. returning to his past driving success.
S: Sire Stakes that keeps bringing in top horses, trainers and drivers.
T: Tim Tetrick to race in the area again in 2013.
U: Upstate New York harness racing continues to rebound
V: Verney, Bobby continues to show improvement in the sulky.
W: Weather for racing in 2013 is as great as it was in 2012.
X: Xiao Xang gets out of second gear and wins a lot more.
Y: Young people realizing how much fun a night at the track can be.
Z: Zambito, Joe still keeps his race calls as exciting as usual.
To all, I hope everyone has a great, safe and prosperous 2013. Let the racing season begin!!
A: Ashley Holliday continues to be the outrider at Batavia Downs and also AT Buffalo Raceway for safety sake!
B: Bobbi Jo Martin continuing to be a huge factor in training standings.
C: Casino cash still increasing the purses for horsemen locally.
D: Dan Noble rides the entire season on the Western New York circuit.
E: Exactas, never let my favorite wager go away.
F: Flanigen, Jack strives for another 1,000 in quest for 5,000 wins.
G: Gabe Prewitt and his refreshing race calls at Buffalo Raceway.
H: Hall Of Fame tradition continues in WNY thanks to USHWA.
I: Income for horsemen continue to rising with bigger purses.
J: Jami Chatt and Brittney Ohol battling the men this summer.
K: Ken Holliday...would love to see him back in the sulky.
L: Losing tickets in 2013 are few and far between.
M: McNeight III continues to develop into a top-notch driver in Western New York.
N: New graphics at Buffalo should enhance the simulcast signal this year.
O: Open races at Buffalo Raceway now going for $11,000.
P: Pete Arrigenna for continued success and class, treating the local fans watch his 'babies' develop..
Q: Quit complaining about the Buffalo Raceway food, it's gonna get better.
R: Ron Beback Jr. returning to his past driving success.
S: Sire Stakes that keeps bringing in top horses, trainers and drivers.
T: Tim Tetrick to race in the area again in 2013.
U: Upstate New York harness racing continues to rebound
V: Verney, Bobby continues to show improvement in the sulky.
W: Weather for racing in 2013 is as great as it was in 2012.
X: Xiao Xang gets out of second gear and wins a lot more.
Y: Young people realizing how much fun a night at the track can be.
Z: Zambito, Joe still keeps his race calls as exciting as usual.
To all, I hope everyone has a great, safe and prosperous 2013. Let the racing season begin!!
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Chatt & Ohol - Let's Get Ready To Race
For quite a few years, Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs have not had a "woman's touch" on the race track. Female drivers have almost become extinct.
But if things turn out the way Jami Chatt (left) and Brittney Ohol (right) hope and expect, the close friends could change the landscape of the male dominated local racing colony very soon.
Chatt and Ohol are in their qualifying phase of acquiring their driving licenses and becoming regulars on the Western New York harness racing circuit. Both have their "under saddle" licenses, but the pari-mutual paper is what they seek.
Being a regular female driver in Western New York has become extremely rare. There's been the likes of Maryann Sarama-Luce, Betsey Brown, Laurie McNeight, Cindy Stark Stevens and Anne Wheeler in years past who did have success, but since then, not much can be found on the distaff side of things.
Nationally, it hold true as well as Bea Farber and Jacqueline Ingrassia head the list of top women who have controlled the reins successfully, but after that, the pickings have been minimal.
Chatt (on left) and Ohol hope to change that. Both have been involved in the industry from an early age as each have come from successful families with long-time ties to harness racing on the Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs. They know the sport and the hard work and dedication that goes along with it.
Their harness racing futures will be different though as Chatt and Ohol begin their journey. The two, however, aren't looking to make this a career full-time, but something for enjoyment at night. Education is first.
The 23-year-old Chatt is a graduate of Oakfield-Alabama High School and the State University of New York at Fredonia, where she graduated with a degree in childhood education. She is the daughter of Cherie Haslip-Chatt, a former driver on the Western New York circuit and granddaughter of Fred Haslip, a very successful and well-respected trainer-driver who raced at Batavia Downs and Buffalo Raceway from 1965 until semi-retiring in 2004.
Ohol is a 2011 graduate of Lockport High School, is currently attending Medaille College in Buffalo as a full-time student enrolled in Veterinary Medicine. She currently trains a four-horse stable. Her grandparents are Mike and Brenda Ohol who are still actively running a stable locally.
"I remember jogging horses when I nine," Chatt said. "Then when I was in the Rising Stars race (shown below in October) at Batavia Downs, my mom told Grandpa 'You know she's gonna love this too much to let it go.'"
But while Chatt has longed to drive, the family had different ideas. "They told me to get an education first. That was a priority but I got a Bachelor's degree and teaching at Oakfield and Elba, which I absolutely love doing, so now I am able to try driving."
Chatt said that her grandpa and mother, while not totally sold on the idea of her driving, have been getting her some guidance. "Grandpa has been giving me some tips already."
While Chatt is done with college. Ohol is just starting her college career as she is at Medaille in search of becoming a veterinarian. "I was sitting in the bike on my grandpa's lap since I was a little kid. I was born and raised on a farm and our whole family has been involved in racing so I've always had the urge to drive."
Ohol also has found that family isn't keen on her driving either, but also have accepted her choice to give it a try.
"My grandmother and mom...they aren't a big fan of me doing this. They are petrified of me driving," Ohol said. "My grandmother is scared to give me drives but I hope they eventually will. I've got to prove myself. "
But Ohol also has her priorities in order. "I don't want to make a career out of driving. I've got six years of college to go at least and my parents and grandparents are petrified of being becoming a driver, so I am kind of doing it on my own. My goal is to open a clinic, have my own stable and drive at night."
Ohol (shown below in Rising Star race) does have a young and upcoming star on the race track as her mentor, her boyfriend Dave McNeight III. "He's my biggest critic," she said laughing. "I've driven at fairs and qualifiers and my mom video tapes all my races and Dave and I watch the replays and he tells me what I could have done differently."
The process of becoming a harness driver begins by taking a test which includes questions about safety, equipment, rules on and off the track and all other areas of harness racing.
From there, after passing the test and you have shown your abilities to handle a standardbred and such, you can now drive in a qualifying race. The track judges must give you a certain number of "OKs" on your driving in the race and the horse must qualify at the set time standard in order to get that "OK". Driving the race with incident but not reaching the standard in time will not give you a satisfactory mark.
Once you accumulated enough "OKs", your pari-mutual "provisional" license will be issued. That will be kept until the full license is issued after the judges feel you've proven yourself in all areas of racing. This can be a long process as well.
"I hope to get my provisional license within two to three months," Chatt said, who has yet to start the quest for "OKs". "I will be qualifying some horses at Buffalo and hopefully I can race for real in the spring. I feel comfortable behind the horses and the gate so I think I will do well. I've done this all my life."
Ohol has already earned some "OKs" from the judges under her belt thus far in her young racing career and hopes to have her provisional license early in the meet as well. "I've driven in fair races and it's some tough racing there. I call it cowboy racing, so I've exposed to racing already. I just have to get some qualifying races and more OKs."
Chatt and Ohol are looking forward to the day when they compete in a pari-mutual race and taking on the boys.
"I want it to be driver against driver and horse against horse. But I do want to show the boys that I can compete and I would love to beat them deep inside," Chatt said with a devilish laugh. "You know the guys are looking at you as a 'girl' and won't want to lose to one. But they can expect respect from me and I hope I get the same."
And asked about the possibility soon of lining up against the likes of Jim Morrill Jr. and other top drivers nationally, Chatt exhaled and said, "They'll get my respect that's for sure."
Ohol said about being a female going against the men, "I look at myself as one of the boys. I've been around horses since I was little and know a lot of the guys. I not a girlie girl...I love playing with the horses, getting muddy so I am used to it. But some will look at me as a girl and will make it tough on me but I want to make a statement that I can race with the men."
She added, "I am gonna race against them but it's about the horse. I study the past performances. I look at the race and she what I need to do and how it will play out. I will be prepared."
She also said the "Rising Stars" race at Batavia Downs in October was such an exciting day for her. Chatt admitted she has watched the race "probably 100 times over" and that she was getting driving tips from others "before I even got back into the paddock."
Both admitted that taking on the challenge of becoming a driver has really taken a bite out of any free time.
Chatt said her day consists of "going to school to teach, then to the barn and then to the track." Ohol stated, "It's difficult...I am always busy. I hope to be switching to on-line courses next semester to give me more free time but otherwise it's college, the barn and then to the paddock."
Both ladies have their racing colors already to go. Chatt said she's going with the familiar blue and yellow scheme that her grandfather Fred Haslip wore. "I couldn't imagine wearing any other colors but his. I love him so much and that would be the way I'd like to show him.
And besides work and school, both have the responsibilities of taking care of the horses they own. Chatt is the owner of Miracle Lu Lu (shown below) while Ohol owns Xiao Xiang.
"I just love Lu Lu," Chatt said. "I get behind her and I am so comfortable. I know she'll get me around the track safe."
Ohol, however, is making sure fans will notice she's a girl. "I have hot pink and white. My horse, Xiao Xiang (shown under saddle with Ohol) always races in those colors so I went with it too."
For now, Chatt and Ohol will be racing in qualifying races. It hopefully won't take long. It will be great to see the pair ready to "battle the boys" sometime this spring and bring a new angle to the Western New York harness circuit and that's a woman's touch on the track.
Don't worry. The story isn't going to stop here. We'll be following the pair as they go up the ranks in earning their licenses and registering their first wins in a pari-mutual race.
But if things turn out the way Jami Chatt (left) and Brittney Ohol (right) hope and expect, the close friends could change the landscape of the male dominated local racing colony very soon.
Being a regular female driver in Western New York has become extremely rare. There's been the likes of Maryann Sarama-Luce, Betsey Brown, Laurie McNeight, Cindy Stark Stevens and Anne Wheeler in years past who did have success, but since then, not much can be found on the distaff side of things.
Nationally, it hold true as well as Bea Farber and Jacqueline Ingrassia head the list of top women who have controlled the reins successfully, but after that, the pickings have been minimal.
Chatt (on left) and Ohol hope to change that. Both have been involved in the industry from an early age as each have come from successful families with long-time ties to harness racing on the Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs. They know the sport and the hard work and dedication that goes along with it.
Their harness racing futures will be different though as Chatt and Ohol begin their journey. The two, however, aren't looking to make this a career full-time, but something for enjoyment at night. Education is first.
The 23-year-old Chatt is a graduate of Oakfield-Alabama High School and the State University of New York at Fredonia, where she graduated with a degree in childhood education. She is the daughter of Cherie Haslip-Chatt, a former driver on the Western New York circuit and granddaughter of Fred Haslip, a very successful and well-respected trainer-driver who raced at Batavia Downs and Buffalo Raceway from 1965 until semi-retiring in 2004.
Ohol is a 2011 graduate of Lockport High School, is currently attending Medaille College in Buffalo as a full-time student enrolled in Veterinary Medicine. She currently trains a four-horse stable. Her grandparents are Mike and Brenda Ohol who are still actively running a stable locally.
"I remember jogging horses when I nine," Chatt said. "Then when I was in the Rising Stars race (shown below in October) at Batavia Downs, my mom told Grandpa 'You know she's gonna love this too much to let it go.'"
Chatt said that her grandpa and mother, while not totally sold on the idea of her driving, have been getting her some guidance. "Grandpa has been giving me some tips already."
While Chatt is done with college. Ohol is just starting her college career as she is at Medaille in search of becoming a veterinarian. "I was sitting in the bike on my grandpa's lap since I was a little kid. I was born and raised on a farm and our whole family has been involved in racing so I've always had the urge to drive."
Ohol also has found that family isn't keen on her driving either, but also have accepted her choice to give it a try.
"My grandmother and mom...they aren't a big fan of me doing this. They are petrified of me driving," Ohol said. "My grandmother is scared to give me drives but I hope they eventually will. I've got to prove myself. "
But Ohol also has her priorities in order. "I don't want to make a career out of driving. I've got six years of college to go at least and my parents and grandparents are petrified of being becoming a driver, so I am kind of doing it on my own. My goal is to open a clinic, have my own stable and drive at night."
Ohol (shown below in Rising Star race) does have a young and upcoming star on the race track as her mentor, her boyfriend Dave McNeight III. "He's my biggest critic," she said laughing. "I've driven at fairs and qualifiers and my mom video tapes all my races and Dave and I watch the replays and he tells me what I could have done differently."
From there, after passing the test and you have shown your abilities to handle a standardbred and such, you can now drive in a qualifying race. The track judges must give you a certain number of "OKs" on your driving in the race and the horse must qualify at the set time standard in order to get that "OK". Driving the race with incident but not reaching the standard in time will not give you a satisfactory mark.
Once you accumulated enough "OKs", your pari-mutual "provisional" license will be issued. That will be kept until the full license is issued after the judges feel you've proven yourself in all areas of racing. This can be a long process as well.
"I hope to get my provisional license within two to three months," Chatt said, who has yet to start the quest for "OKs". "I will be qualifying some horses at Buffalo and hopefully I can race for real in the spring. I feel comfortable behind the horses and the gate so I think I will do well. I've done this all my life."
Ohol has already earned some "OKs" from the judges under her belt thus far in her young racing career and hopes to have her provisional license early in the meet as well. "I've driven in fair races and it's some tough racing there. I call it cowboy racing, so I've exposed to racing already. I just have to get some qualifying races and more OKs."
Chatt and Ohol are looking forward to the day when they compete in a pari-mutual race and taking on the boys.
"I want it to be driver against driver and horse against horse. But I do want to show the boys that I can compete and I would love to beat them deep inside," Chatt said with a devilish laugh. "You know the guys are looking at you as a 'girl' and won't want to lose to one. But they can expect respect from me and I hope I get the same."
And asked about the possibility soon of lining up against the likes of Jim Morrill Jr. and other top drivers nationally, Chatt exhaled and said, "They'll get my respect that's for sure."
Ohol said about being a female going against the men, "I look at myself as one of the boys. I've been around horses since I was little and know a lot of the guys. I not a girlie girl...I love playing with the horses, getting muddy so I am used to it. But some will look at me as a girl and will make it tough on me but I want to make a statement that I can race with the men."
She added, "I am gonna race against them but it's about the horse. I study the past performances. I look at the race and she what I need to do and how it will play out. I will be prepared."
She also said the "Rising Stars" race at Batavia Downs in October was such an exciting day for her. Chatt admitted she has watched the race "probably 100 times over" and that she was getting driving tips from others "before I even got back into the paddock."
Both admitted that taking on the challenge of becoming a driver has really taken a bite out of any free time.
Chatt said her day consists of "going to school to teach, then to the barn and then to the track." Ohol stated, "It's difficult...I am always busy. I hope to be switching to on-line courses next semester to give me more free time but otherwise it's college, the barn and then to the paddock."
Both ladies have their racing colors already to go. Chatt said she's going with the familiar blue and yellow scheme that her grandfather Fred Haslip wore. "I couldn't imagine wearing any other colors but his. I love him so much and that would be the way I'd like to show him.
And besides work and school, both have the responsibilities of taking care of the horses they own. Chatt is the owner of Miracle Lu Lu (shown below) while Ohol owns Xiao Xiang.
"I just love Lu Lu," Chatt said. "I get behind her and I am so comfortable. I know she'll get me around the track safe."
Ohol, however, is making sure fans will notice she's a girl. "I have hot pink and white. My horse, Xiao Xiang (shown under saddle with Ohol) always races in those colors so I went with it too."
For now, Chatt and Ohol will be racing in qualifying races. It hopefully won't take long. It will be great to see the pair ready to "battle the boys" sometime this spring and bring a new angle to the Western New York harness circuit and that's a woman's touch on the track.
Don't worry. The story isn't going to stop here. We'll be following the pair as they go up the ranks in earning their licenses and registering their first wins in a pari-mutual race.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Bobbi Jo Martin Reaches Elusive Goal
If you don't first succeed, try, try again.
For a number of years, Bobbi Jo Martin HAS succeeded as a trainer on the Western New York harness racing circuit. But after 20 years of being a accomplished trainer, succeeding in her mind just wasn't good enough. The 44-year-old Martin wanted more, to take that next step, an elusive one.
She wanted a trainer's title.
Well, Martin (shown below) hit the daily double.
Her hard work finally paid off in 2012 as she won the Batavia Downs' Trainer of the Year honors, the elusive crown, but went an unexpected step further by capturing the Trainer of the Year title in Western New York.
One got the feeling it was going sooner than later in getting a title. Looking back at the start of the 2012 campaign, Martin had a great Buffalo Raceway meet and finished third in the training standings with 63 wins in 384 outings, $304,697 in earnings and a Universal Training Rating System score of .297. She finished behind Jim Graham who had 83 wins and John Mungillo with 79.
The success rolled right into the Batavia Downs Summer/Fall meet as Martin had 49 victories in 288 attempts, $234,365 in winnings and a UTRS of .280, beating Dave McNeight Jr. by seven wins.
For the season, Martin's line showed 677 starts, 112 wins, 91 place finishes and 98 shows for $540,982 in earnings and a UTRS of .286.
"This couldn't have happened at a better time for me than right right now," Martin said of winning her first ever trainer title. "This is a tough business for a woman to be in and to see the success Tracy Brainard, Linda Toscano and Cassie Coleman have had this season, this is just great. They've all done it at bigger tracks. But this may only be Western New York, but it's darn special for me. I've always set a goal to win a title but I always want to be as close to the top as possible. That's our goal every year. But this year we finally did it. The success is wonderful but you've also got to be humble."
Being a woman in a male-dominated sport, Martin likes the fact that she has proven that she can compete with the 'big boys' and win.
She reflected on a brief story about when she was going to the winner's circle early this month to get her awards for Trainer of the Year and Trainer of the Season. "Someone jokingly came up to my husband John and said to escort me to the winner's circle because women aren't supposed to win awards like that."
"We worked hard and it paid off this year," Martin said of her success. "Winning the training title has always been of goal of mine and finally accomplishing it this year is really special."
Martin and her husband John (shown below) said they've accomplished what they did in 2012 because of the owners. "We had a better class of horses overall and that's has a lot to due with the owners. With the purse structure here, ownersare getting better stock and if you have a $6,000 to $10,000 claimer, you should be able to race them weekly.
The split is about 50-50 when it comes to local ownership and out-of-town interests Martin, a Hamburg, N.Y. resident deals with.
And if winning those two titles weren't enough, Martin was the trainer for Trotter of the Year at Batavia Downs in Big Baller. So the elsuive win turned into a daily double which now evolved into a trifecta.
"My husband (John) and I both trained Big Baller (shown below). He's kind of a quirky horse...he likes to train sometimes and then there are times he doesn't. He had a lot of back class when we got him and we straightened him out between us."
She credits her husband John and four grooms for the banner year. "We all work together. I also have a lot of good owners and owe it them too. With the purse structure now here in Western New York, we are getting better owners and getting better stock."
When asked if her training title would mean more horses in her barn, she wasn't looking to add any at this point. Including the "babies" she has in her stable, Martin oversees 37 on a daily basis. That's just right for her but added, "We don't want to expand because help is so hard to find here in Western New York. You have to have good help."
But finding help off the race track may be a problem, but getting top-notch help on the track was a different story as she used the services of Shawn Gray, Dan Noble and Jack Flanigen throughout the year. "I didn't hurt having them."
Gray won the driving titles at both Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs in his first season locally and Martin said about his possible departure from the local circuit, "Shawn Gray can drive anywhere and be successsful, but he can dominate here in Western New York."
But while are basking in a glorious 2012 season, the Martin's are looking ahead to the 2013 year, knowing there's a target on their back as they are the ones to beat.
"We have a lot of friends at the track but it seems like when you are winning, there aren't as many," Martin said laughing. "Success is wonderful but you got to be humble. I am superstitious so I don't want to say much about 2013 but my goal again is to be near the top again."
And a motto Martin said that she'll keep in mind as well is "When climbing the ladder to success, watch whose toes you step on going up because those are the same toes you are going to step on on your way back down."
Another factor in 2013 Martin and her crew are keeping a wary eye on is the influx of more horses due to the reduction in racing dates and purses just across the border in Canada.
"Personally, I am afraid of it," she said of the possible invasion from Canada. "They have nowhere to race but there are some great owners who could be bringing their horses here. And that could be a positive as well as you will probably be able to claim them and thus, improve your stock."
But for the next few weeks, Bobbi Jo Martin is just going to sit back, relax and bask in the glory of being Western New York's Trainer of the Year, something that was over 20 years in the making.
For a number of years, Bobbi Jo Martin HAS succeeded as a trainer on the Western New York harness racing circuit. But after 20 years of being a accomplished trainer, succeeding in her mind just wasn't good enough. The 44-year-old Martin wanted more, to take that next step, an elusive one.
She wanted a trainer's title.
Well, Martin (shown below) hit the daily double.
One got the feeling it was going sooner than later in getting a title. Looking back at the start of the 2012 campaign, Martin had a great Buffalo Raceway meet and finished third in the training standings with 63 wins in 384 outings, $304,697 in earnings and a Universal Training Rating System score of .297. She finished behind Jim Graham who had 83 wins and John Mungillo with 79.
The success rolled right into the Batavia Downs Summer/Fall meet as Martin had 49 victories in 288 attempts, $234,365 in winnings and a UTRS of .280, beating Dave McNeight Jr. by seven wins.
For the season, Martin's line showed 677 starts, 112 wins, 91 place finishes and 98 shows for $540,982 in earnings and a UTRS of .286.
"This couldn't have happened at a better time for me than right right now," Martin said of winning her first ever trainer title. "This is a tough business for a woman to be in and to see the success Tracy Brainard, Linda Toscano and Cassie Coleman have had this season, this is just great. They've all done it at bigger tracks. But this may only be Western New York, but it's darn special for me. I've always set a goal to win a title but I always want to be as close to the top as possible. That's our goal every year. But this year we finally did it. The success is wonderful but you've also got to be humble."
Being a woman in a male-dominated sport, Martin likes the fact that she has proven that she can compete with the 'big boys' and win.
She reflected on a brief story about when she was going to the winner's circle early this month to get her awards for Trainer of the Year and Trainer of the Season. "Someone jokingly came up to my husband John and said to escort me to the winner's circle because women aren't supposed to win awards like that."
"We worked hard and it paid off this year," Martin said of her success. "Winning the training title has always been of goal of mine and finally accomplishing it this year is really special."
Martin and her husband John (shown below) said they've accomplished what they did in 2012 because of the owners. "We had a better class of horses overall and that's has a lot to due with the owners. With the purse structure here, ownersare getting better stock and if you have a $6,000 to $10,000 claimer, you should be able to race them weekly.
And if winning those two titles weren't enough, Martin was the trainer for Trotter of the Year at Batavia Downs in Big Baller. So the elsuive win turned into a daily double which now evolved into a trifecta.
"My husband (John) and I both trained Big Baller (shown below). He's kind of a quirky horse...he likes to train sometimes and then there are times he doesn't. He had a lot of back class when we got him and we straightened him out between us."
She credits her husband John and four grooms for the banner year. "We all work together. I also have a lot of good owners and owe it them too. With the purse structure now here in Western New York, we are getting better owners and getting better stock."
When asked if her training title would mean more horses in her barn, she wasn't looking to add any at this point. Including the "babies" she has in her stable, Martin oversees 37 on a daily basis. That's just right for her but added, "We don't want to expand because help is so hard to find here in Western New York. You have to have good help."
But finding help off the race track may be a problem, but getting top-notch help on the track was a different story as she used the services of Shawn Gray, Dan Noble and Jack Flanigen throughout the year. "I didn't hurt having them."
Gray won the driving titles at both Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs in his first season locally and Martin said about his possible departure from the local circuit, "Shawn Gray can drive anywhere and be successsful, but he can dominate here in Western New York."
But while are basking in a glorious 2012 season, the Martin's are looking ahead to the 2013 year, knowing there's a target on their back as they are the ones to beat.
"We have a lot of friends at the track but it seems like when you are winning, there aren't as many," Martin said laughing. "Success is wonderful but you got to be humble. I am superstitious so I don't want to say much about 2013 but my goal again is to be near the top again."
And a motto Martin said that she'll keep in mind as well is "When climbing the ladder to success, watch whose toes you step on going up because those are the same toes you are going to step on on your way back down."
"Personally, I am afraid of it," she said of the possible invasion from Canada. "They have nowhere to race but there are some great owners who could be bringing their horses here. And that could be a positive as well as you will probably be able to claim them and thus, improve your stock."
But for the next few weeks, Bobbi Jo Martin is just going to sit back, relax and bask in the glory of being Western New York's Trainer of the Year, something that was over 20 years in the making.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Where To Bet Buffalo Raceway
If you are not local and can't get to a track or an Off-Track Betting location, here is a list of places that will accept wagers from Buffalo Raceway.
Some of these places are internet websites. Also, check the ads along side my blog to see if they are accepting or broadcasting races from Buffalo.
Wagering locations for Buffalo Raceway
AmWest...........................................................................Parx
Arlington................................................................Phumela Gold
Balmoral..........................................................Pimlico Race Course
Batavia Downs..................................................Plainridge Racecourse
Buffalo Raceway.........................................................Pocono Downs
Capital OTB........................................................Premier Turf Club
Catskill OTB............................................................Presque Isle
Colonial Downs..............................................Racing & Gaming Services
Day at the Track........................................................Racing 2 Day
Delaware Park.........................................................Racing Channel
Dover Downs.............................................Racing Network International
Elite Turf Club.............................................................Red Mile
European Wager Serv.....................................................Running Aces
Finger Lakes................................................................Saratoga
Freehold...........................................................Scarborough Downs
Global Wager Serv.......................................................Scioto Downs
Harrington.................................................................Sol Mutel
Hawthorne.................................................................Source One
Indiana Downs............................................................Suffolk OTB
Laurel Park....................................................................Tioga
Lewiston Raceway................................................................TVG
Lien Games...............................................................Twin Spires
Meadowlands.............................................................US Off Track
Meadows.................................................................Vernon Downs
Monmouth.................................................................Western OTB
Monticello...........................................................Wheeling Island
Nassau OTB................................................................Xpress Bet
Northfield Park..............................................................Yonkers
Ocean Downs...................................................................Youbet
For a complete schedule please call your local track.
Some of these places are internet websites. Also, check the ads along side my blog to see if they are accepting or broadcasting races from Buffalo.
Wagering locations for Buffalo Raceway
AmWest...........................................................................Parx
Arlington................................................................Phumela Gold
Balmoral..........................................................Pimlico Race Course
Batavia Downs..................................................Plainridge Racecourse
Buffalo Raceway.........................................................Pocono Downs
Capital OTB........................................................Premier Turf Club
Catskill OTB............................................................Presque Isle
Colonial Downs..............................................Racing & Gaming Services
Day at the Track........................................................Racing 2 Day
Delaware Park.........................................................Racing Channel
Dover Downs.............................................Racing Network International
Elite Turf Club.............................................................Red Mile
European Wager Serv.....................................................Running Aces
Finger Lakes................................................................Saratoga
Freehold...........................................................Scarborough Downs
Global Wager Serv.......................................................Scioto Downs
Harrington.................................................................Sol Mutel
Hawthorne.................................................................Source One
Indiana Downs............................................................Suffolk OTB
Laurel Park....................................................................Tioga
Lewiston Raceway................................................................TVG
Lien Games...............................................................Twin Spires
Meadowlands.............................................................US Off Track
Meadows.................................................................Vernon Downs
Monmouth.................................................................Western OTB
Monticello...........................................................Wheeling Island
Nassau OTB................................................................Xpress Bet
Northfield Park..............................................................Yonkers
Ocean Downs...................................................................Youbet
For a complete schedule please call your local track.
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