Pembroke fell to 2-3 on the season with the team's third-straight loss in Girls Basketball on Monday, 56-39 to Attica.
Scoring for Pembroke:
Press release:
"This week in Genesee Region USBC bowling"' produced a couple more honor scores -- an 813 series by Bergen's Harris Busmire and a 300 game by Batavia's James Townsend -- and a couple of near misses, including a 299 game by the aforementioned Townsend.
Busmire, a 58-year-old right-hander and longtime cook at The Viking Valhalla and Rose Garden Bowl, recorded his second United States Bowling Congress-certified 800 series in the Thursday Owls League at his hometown center.
Bowling on lanes 7-8, Busmire spun 278, 268 and 267 -- notching strikes on his final six deliveries to break the 800 mark. He had the front eight strikes in the first game and the last six strikes in game two before rolling 11 strikes in the third game for a total of 31 strikes.
It is his second USBC-certified 800 series. His first was an 811 in 2003 at Rose Garden Bowl.
-- Townsend, a high-revving righty who turns 25 on Friday, finished with 300 and 253 for a 768 series in the County Line Friday Trios League at Mancuso Bowling Center -- three nights after a 299 game and 791 series in the Tuesday Coed League at Mancuso's.
He now has four USBC-certified perfect games.
Also in the Tuesday league, Steve Krna of Batavia opened with a 290 game en route to a 747 series.
-- At Medina Lanes, Hayden Allis of Medina registered a 278 game and 796 series in the Wednesday Community League. A 7-10 split on his second ball in the final frame of his third game cost him an 800 series. He also rolled a 725 series to lead the Sunday Rolloffs League.
-- Batavian Jim Prucha rolled his best series ever in the Meyer's RV Monday NFL League at Mancuso's -- 235-249-267--751.
For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
Six sectional titles and two state semifinals isn't a bad legacy for most coaches who have been leading varsity football squads for a lot longer than Brennan Briggs coached in Batavia.
Briggs accomplished that feat -- along with a career record of 88-25 -- over 11 seasons.
In reality, Briggs won six sectional titles over nine seasons because the football program he inherited in 2012 was in shambles. After years of posting losing records, the Blue Devils needed a coach who could restore player development, discipline, vision, and a relentless drive to win. It took a couple of seasons for Briggs to fully instill a new system and new attitude in Batavia. Once he did, the Blue Devils were consistently formidable opponents year after year, game after game.
In 2014, the Blue Devils won the school's first football sectional title since 1991.
"As a fellow BHS grad like Brennan, I know the pride that existed in Blue Devil football when I was a BHS student, and over his successful coaching tenure, Brennan re-instilled that great pride and tradition for all of us Batavians," Superintendent Jason Smith said.
But the effort it takes to consistently win in varsity-level football takes its toll. The coaching doesn't just happen between the lines on Friday nights or during afternoon workouts. There are scouting trips, hours of film review, team meetings, meetings with coaches, meetings with players and parents, and nights just thinking about the next game. Planning and preparation are hard work. And it is year-round work.
"Brennan is the kind of coach who would never be out-coached," Athletic Director Mike Bromley said. "But that kind of work wears you down."
That's why Briggs is stepping down as head coach of the Batavia football team, and it's what Briggs said in his resignation letter:
It has been an unbelievable journey, but It's time for me to focus on the things I lost sight of over the years, and that's being a good husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend. I've been caught up in the ‘process’ for so long, and it is affecting the people who I love the most. In this position, if you’re doing it right, the hours are endless, late nights are a regular, and stress is the norm. Everyone talks about balance. Balance has never been a strength of mine. I’m all in or I’m out. Balance is great, but when you want to be on top, there’s no such thing as balance, and that’s part of why I need to step down. My family needs me to be all in with them, for the long haul. Unfortunately, with my family health history, I believe if I continue down this path, I won’t be around for the ones who need me the most when they need me the most.
It's that all-in character about Briggs that both Smith and Bromley mentioned in discussing the coach's decision to step away from football.
"I have known Brennan and his family over the course of my life through a family friendship, and actually taught Brennan swimming in the Red Cross backyard swimming program in the 80s and early 90s," Smith said. "He is a class act all around -- a humble and confident leader, and I congratulate him personally and professionally on his success. His wife Justine and children are certainly more than deserving of having their husband and father around more in their lives, and I wish them great happiness."
Bromley said he and Briggs have been discussing the coach's eventual resignation for a couple of years and what a hard decision it was to make, but, in the end, Briggs put his health and his family first.
"He is doing the right thing," Bromley said.
Briggs -- who had himself been a football and hockey star for Batavia -- joined Batavia's football program right out of college, first as a modified coach, then he spent two seasons as JV coach (going undefeated his second year). He will continue on as a hockey coach, Bromley said. He also remains in his teaching position at Batavia Middle School.
Briggs will continue to have a positive impact on academics and athletics in the Batavia City School District, Bromley said.
"Anything Brennan wants to do, he’s going to be successful at because of his high energy, his work ethic, his character, and people feed off of those things," Bromley said.
Because Briggs built such a robust program, Bromley isn't worried about maintaining the high standards Briggs set. All of the coaches at all levels of the program are invested in the system and understand it, so whoever steps into the head coach role next, while he might have his own ideas to impart, will find the scaffolding already in place that can build championship teams, he said.
In the near term, the JV team has had three consecutive undefeated seasons, and the modified team lost only one game this past season.
"Brennan has put a program in place that can be sustainable," Bromley said.
Van Detta has been regularly filled to capacity on Friday nights for the past couple of seasons. Bromley doesn't expect that community spirit to fade now that Batavia has a winning program in place.
Bromley hopes to have the new coach hired by the end of January.
Smith said Briggs represented Batavia well as head football coach, and he and the Board of Education are grateful for the positive impact he had on the community as head football coach.
"His program, coaching staff, and student-athletes under his leadership took great pride in representing all of us at BCSD," Smith said. "All the wins and titles weren't too bad either! On and off the field, Brennan demonstrated commitment, a second-to-none work ethic, and a passion for all that is Batavia."
Photo: Previously unpublished file photo of Brennan Briggs during football practice in 2013. Photo by Howard Owens.
The Grinch didn't steal Christmas on Friday night during halftime of the Oakfield-Alabama vs. Pembroke basketball game. He just stole the hearts of families at the game who signed up for pictures with the famous Dr. Seuss character.
The photo session raised $134 to support O-A's varsity cheer program.
Submitted photos.
Pembroke and Oakfield-Alabama had a shootout on Friday and the Dragons pulled out a big win over the Hornets, the defending Division C2 champions, 65-59.
It was the first loss of the season for the Hornets after opening the year 3-0.
Scoring by quarter:
O-A: 17 15 14 13
Pembroke: 14 14 24 13
Scoring for Pembroke:
Scoring for O-A:
Pembroke is now 2-1.
Photos by Kristin Smith. For more photos, click here.
Six makes in six tries from the free-throw line by Cam McClinic in overtime, along with two field goals by Aiden Bellavia, helped lift the Blue Devils over Eastridge on Friday to give Batavia its second win of the season in Boys Basketball.
In all, McClinic was 12-12 on free throws in the game. He scored 16 points.
Bellavia scored 11, and Ja'Vin McFollins scored 10. He hit two three-point goals and Sawyer Siverling also hit a pair.
Batavia won 52-49.
Cordell Young scored 33 points for Eastridge.
Elba picked up its second win of the season in Girls Basketball, beating Lyndonville 64-33.
Sydney Reilly scored 19 points, Kennedy Augello scored 18, hitting five three-point goals, and Lydia Ross scored 11. Reilly also had eight assists and six steals.
The Notre Dame Lady Irish picked up wins on back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday.
On Friday, Notre Dame beat EMHCS 70-17.
Amelia McCulley scored 26 points and Avelin Tomidy, 19. McCulley also had 10 assists and six steals.
On Saturday, the Irish beat Wheatland-Chili, 55-24. McCully scored 22 points, Sisson, 18, and Tomidy, 10. Sisson also had 11 rebounds and three steals.
Notre Dame is now 4-1 on the season.
The Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association has announced the horses who will be honored for their performances at Batavia Downs during the 2022 racing season. These horses who have competed at the Downs all season, will each be honored with a trophy in the winner’s circle between races during “The Day of Distinction” that will be held on Saturday, December 17. Post time for the first race is 3 p.m.
Pacer of the Meet: Stranger Things (Western Terror-Southwind Prairie) 18-8-3-2 - $71,300 - 1:53.2 at Batavia Downs
Owner: Virginia Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel and James Reuther
Trainer: Angelo Nappo
Stranger Things was the winningest horse of the meet and top money earner-- regardless of age, gait or gender --- amassing a total of eight victories and $71,300 in purses while facing Open class company each week. Overall in 2022, Stranger Things has had 31 starts with 12 wins, six seconds and two thirds with $103,945 in earnings and put an exclamation mark on his career year with a new lifetime mark of 1:53.2 at Batavia on October 22.
Trotter of the Meet: C R Blazin Beauty (Crazed-Melrose Abbey) 18-6-2-2 - $51,880 - 1:57 at Batavia Downs
Owner: Marissa Russo
Trainer: David Russo
CR Blazin Beauty is another horse boasting a career year and who was also the winningest trotter of the meet, scoring six wins including four in the Open and this was no small task being a mare racing against the boys every week. The 8-year-old also scored a landmark win at Batavia on December 3 when she achieved the 50th victory of her career. For the year, CR Blazin Beauty has 37 starts with 10 wins, nine seconds and four thirds with $105,384 in the bank.
Mare of the Meet: Saulsbrook Olympia (Big Jim-Racino Star) 16-5-2-2 - $50,530 - 1:53.4 at Batavia Downs
Owner: William McNeil and Edward Gorc
Trainer: Jennifer Giuliani
For the first year competing as an aged mare, Saulsbrook Olympia excelled in her new classification. The 4-year-old took an impressive 1:50.3 lifetime mark at Woodbine Mohawk Park prior to arriving at Batavia. Since the start of the Batavia meet, Saulsbrook Olympia garnered five wins and the highest earnings by a pacing mare ($50,530) while facing the best resident and best ship-in talent from all over the state. Her overall numbers for 2022 show 33 starts, 10 wins, two seconds and six thirds with $85,226 in purses earned.
Please note that post time for Saturday was moved to 3 p.m. to avoid conflict with the flexed Buffalo Bills versus Miami Dolphins game later that night. The clubhouse will open their doors at 2:30 p.m. and will offer a prime rib and shrimp buffet that will be served from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Railbar will be open from 2:30 p.m. until the end of the last race, which will be approximately 7 p.m., however it will not remain open for the Bills game.
There may be an early Christmas present for some lucky player at Batavia Saturday. A Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta carryover that has been growing for weeks has reached $10,733.58 and with the meet ending, a mandatory payout will happen Saturday. So Batavia Downs has guaranteed the pool at $15,000 through the United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program for that pentafecta wager in race 13.
Free program pages are available on the USTA website for that race under the “Handicapping” tab and free full past performance race programs for the entire card can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab. If you can’t attend the races live, you can still watch all the action on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel.
Ron "Tigar" Penepent has been to Las Vegas a few times. But on this trip, he had the time of his life even if he didn't win a portion of the more than $15 million pot up for grabs in the 2022 World Poker Tour World Championship.
The Batavia native won his $10,400 buy-in to the tournament and was hoping to make a deep run, but on the third day of play, he got beat by an ace on the river. Worse, he was the one holding a pair of aces.
"This has been an unbelievable experience," Penepent said. "It was a bucket list item of mine to play in a big-stakes tournament."
A love of poker runs in the Penepent family. His father used to host regular games after hours at Ron's Shell at Main and Oak in Batavia.
"It was my father, my uncles, a bunch of good friends," Penepent said.
Penepent joined the World Poker Tour site 20 years ago, and he told his father that he would play in a big tournament one day.
Unfortunately, the elder Penepent passed away a couple of years ago so he didn't get to see "Tigar" (his nickname since he was a child) sit down at a WPT hold-em table.
About a dozen family members did travel to Vegas to support Penepent during the tournament. They've all been having a good time, he said, and now he's out of the tournament, he and his wife Patty are going to have some fun, too.
They think they will go to the shop where the TV series "Counting Cars" is filmed, as well as the bar, Vamp'd, owned by the show's star, as well as the Pawn Stars pawn shop.
As for that final hand, Penepent, who now lives just outside of Chattanooga, Tenn., isn't calling it a bad beat or even a misplayed hand.
He was on the button (the last position to bet on hand) with blinds of $1,500/$3,000. His stack was $175,000 to $200,000, about midsize at his table. To his left is an aggressive player who is by far the chip leader at Penepent's table.
When the bet gets to him, and there's been no raises, Penepent looks down at pocket aces and decides to double the blind, making the bet $6,000.
The chip leader calls and a guy on Penepent's right calls.
The flop comes jack, 10, seven.
Player to the right checks, hero checks, chip leader bets $12,000.
The guy on the right calls. The hero goes all-in.
Chip leader calls. The guy on the right calls.
Cards up. Chip leader hit two pair, jack and 10s. The guy on the right has an open-ended straight draw with a suited king and a queen (meaning either an ace or a nine gives him a straight).
If a jack or a 10 comes on the turn, or the river, the chip leader has a full house. The only card that can help the straight draw in an ace.
The turn is a deuce. Our hero's outs are now one of the three remaining deuces or one of the three remaining sevens. Otherwise, he loses and is out of the tournament.
Mr. straight draw spikes the ace on the river and rakes in a pot of some $500,000 to $600,000, and our hero is headed to the Strip to join the Vegas fun with his family.
"I played the hand the only way I could have played it," Penepent said. "If I go all in from the start, the chip leader is going to call."
He also figures he would have gotten a call from both players if he hadn't check-raised and just gone all-in when it was his turn to bet after the flop.
"I decided to slow play the aces from the start, and I still think that was the best play," Penepent said.
(The risk of playing pocket aces too aggressively is marginal hands fold, and you miss the opportunity to maximize the value of a strong starting hand. In this case, the marginal hands called -- which is what you want -- but those players were lucky enough to improve their hands with the community cards.)
Penepent does expect to be on TV when the championship is aired in five or six months. He said he was interviewed.
He had a chance to meet one of the show's stars, Vince Van Patten.
"I talked with Vince Van Patten (about the hand), and he said if he were sitting in the same seat playing the same hand, he would have played it the same way, except maybe he would have made it $9,000 (before the flop)."
Even with the fairly early tournament bust, Penepent said he wants another crack at it. He plans to play in the same satellite tournament that won him this year's seat again next year.
"I really enjoyed the experience," Penepent said. "I don't know if I'm going to get to enjoy it again, but I'm going to try."
The Oakfield-Alabama Hornets beat Attica in Boys Basketball on Wednesday night, 63-49.
For O-A, Noah Currier scored 18 points, Kyle Porter, 14 (hitting four three-pointers), and Colton Yasses, 11.
Photos by Kristin Smith. For more photos, click here.
Jim Morrill Jr. put Shallow on the lead but Larry Stalbaum had Demeter N revved up in the breeze and they drew alongside the leader at the quarter in :28.4 and from there, the pair that had been splitting starts between Saratoga and Batavia got into it. With no hole to be had and the front unattainable, Demeter N continued to dig on the rim past the half in :57.3, around turn three and then up the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:27.2.
Shallow was under urging from Morrill and Stalbaum was rocking in Demeter N’s bike as they rounded the last bend only one-half length apart. Heading into the lane there was no quit in Demeter N, who continued to gain ground on Shallow who started to look vulnerable. As the gap shortened along with the stretch, it appeared Demeter N could reach. But Shallow had enough left to close out the deal and won by a neck in 1:57 in a real thriller.
With the win, Shallow ($3.40) eclipsed the century mark in earnings, now boasting $104,236 for owner Room4040 LLC Stables and trainer Andy Gardiner.
In the $10,000 conditioned event for fillies and mares, Candy’s Desire (Kyle Cummings) caught a perfect trip behind Saulsbrook Olympia (Dave McNeight III) into the stretch and then shook loose to catch Lyons Anita (Kevin Cummings) at the light to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:57. Owned by her driver Kyle Cumming along with Alyssa Cummings, the Tammy Cummings trained Candy’s Desire returned $6.40.
Kevin Cummings and Jim Morrill Jr. each had driving hat tricks as trainer Shawn McDonough also won three on the conditioning side.
Batavia Downs wraps up the 2022 meet on Saturday (Dec. 17) at 3 p.m. and there is another carryover available. The Jackpot Hi-5 Pentafecta in the 13th race will start with $10,733 in the pool and as it is the last night of racing for 2022, there will be a force out and the pool has been guaranteed at $15,000 through the USTA Strategic Wagering Program.
The clubhouse will open the doors at 2:30 p.m. and will offer a prime rib and shrimp buffet that will be served from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Railbar will be open at 2:30 p.m. until the end of the last race, which will be approximately 7 p.m., however it will not remain open for the Bills game.
The final day of racing will also host the “Day of Distinction” year-end awards, which will be presented by the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs to honor all the human and equine stars of the 2022 meeting.
Photo by Wendy J. Lowery.
With the 2022 meet coming to a close, the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs will honor the top performing driver and trainer in the winner’s circle on closing day, Saturday, December 17. However, this year is a little different because accolades will be going to two drivers for their achievements, where the training title has yet to be decided.
After a ferocious meet-long “two-horse race" between Kevin Cummings and Jim Morrill Jr. that saw the third-place driver end up over 75 wins behind both, the dash driving title and trophy goes to Kevin Cummings, who at the end of Wednesday night’s card had 149 wins to Morrill’s 136.
To date, Cummings’ numbers for the meet show 526 starts with 146 wins, 104 seconds and 72 thirds with earnings of $1,024,864 and a UDR. of .439. Cummings has won the dash title at Batavia four times before and finished second to Morrill last year.
Cummings' body of work for all of 2022 saw him start 943 times with 217 wins, 175 seconds and 129 thirds with $1,670,595 in earnings and a UDR of .379. Those overall numbers reflect his second-highest one-year earnings total, his most wins since 2015 and his highest UDR since 2003.
Morrill’s numbers are just as gaudy. At Batavia, he had 455 starts with 136 wins, 100 seconds and 62 thirds with $1,115,951 in purses and a UDR of .466. Morrill has won this title the last two years and four times overall.
Altogether this year, Morrill had 916 starts with 246 wins, 199 seconds and 126 thirds with $2,412,882 in earnings and a UDR of .435. That UDR rating has him sitting in second place among all drivers in North America for percentage performance.
Another defining accomplishment that Cummings and Morrill had in common this year is that they both went over the $1 million mark in earnings at Batavia Downs and that’s the first time that any driver has surpassed that milestone since the track opened in 1940. As a result, a special plaque presentation commemorating that historic event will be made to both.
The training title is still up for grabs between Jennifer Giuliani and Shawn McDonough and will go down to the final night of action. After Wednesday’s card McDonough has 52 wins and Giuliani has 50. And both have a busy day on Saturday with Giuliani entering seven horses and McDonough starting five, so the winner will be determined at some point during that card.
So far, McDonough’s Batavia tally shows 271 starts with 52 wins, 39 seconds and 40 thirds that banked $383,444 and provided him a UTR of .321. His 2022 overall totals for 2022 showed 108 wins and $819,482 earned, both of which were career highs for McDonough by a wide margin. McDonough won the driving title at Batavia in 2013 but has never won a training title, although he did finish second at Batavia in 2020.
To this point in the meet Giuliani has 247 starts with 50 wins, 49 seconds and 30 thirds with earnings of $416,298 and a UTR of .353. For the year she has 86 wins and $701,122 in purses, both of which are career highs for the fourth-year conditioner. Giuliani won her first training title at Batavia last year.
Please note that post time for Saturday was moved to 3 p.m. to avoid conflict with the flexed Buffalo Bills versus Miami Dolphins game later that night.
There may be an early Christmas present for some lucky player at Batavia Saturday. A Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta carryover that has been growing for weeks has reached $10,733.58 and with the meet ending, a mandatory payout will happen Saturday. So Batavia Downs has guaranteed the pool at $15,000 through the United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program for that pentafecta wager in race 13.
Free program pages will be available on the USTA website for that race and free full past performance race programs for the entire card can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab. If you can’t attend the races live, you can still watch all the action on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel.
The clubhouse will open their doors at 2:30 p.m. and will offer a prime rib and shrimp buffet that will be served from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Railbar will be open from 2:30 p.m. until the end of the last race, which will be approximately 7 p.m., however it will not remain open for the Bills game.
Photos by Wendy Lowery. Top photo, Kevin Cummings. Bottom photo, Jim Morrill.
Closing day at Batavia Downs is this Saturday (Dec. 17) and an early Christmas present may be waiting there for some lucky player. A Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta carryover that has been growing for weeks has reached $10,733.58 and with the meet coming to a close, a mandatory payout will happen Saturday. So Batavia Downs will be offering a guaranteed $15,000 pool through the United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program for that pentafecta wager in race 13.
Please note that post time for Saturday was moved to 3 p.m. to avoid conflict with the flexed Buffalo Bills versus Miami Dolphins game later that night.
Free program pages will be available on the USTA website for that race and free full past performance race programs for the entire card can be downloaded by visiting the track's website at bataviadownsgaming.com and clicking the "Live Racing" tab. If you can’t attend the races live, you can still watch all the action on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel.
The clubhouse will open its doors at 2:30 p.m. and will offer a prime rib and shrimp buffet that will be served from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Railbar will be open at 2:30 p.m. until the end of the last race, which will be approximately 7 p.m. however it will not remain open for the Bills game.
The final day of racing will also host the “Day of Distinction” year-end awards, which will be presented by the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs to honor all the human and equine stars of the 2022 meeting.
Story based on submission by BND
BND started slow, but gained stream as the game went on exploding for six goals in 30 minutes to completely erase a 2–0 deficit after the first period.
"This was the first time all season we were trailing at the end of the first period, and we were down by two," said Head Coach Marc Staley. "But the kids did a really nice job gathering themselves and starting fresh in the second period.”
United scored four goals in the first eight minutes of the second period to go from down by two, two up by two.
“Executing on the power play like we did there in a second period gave us a huge boost," Staley said. "We are going to be a difficult team to beat if teams are going to take penalties against us.”
The Storm were called for three penalties in the early portion of the 2nd period, and BND capitalized on all three.
Senior Cooper Hamilton scored on the power play only 29 seconds into the period, followed by another power-play goal from sophomore Brady Johnson. A mere five minutes later, Junior forward Joe DiRisio buried a rebound and made it three power-play goals on three chances.
“Specialty teams are huge in hockey nowadays," Staley said. "We converted three of our four chances on the power play, and we killed off all five of the penalties called against us. I thought the kids did a great job executing in the big moments.”
Junior goaltender Frankie Falleti made 21 stops on 24 shots against. Also scoring for BND was sophomore Ivan Milovidov, sophomore Jameson Motyka, and sophomore Brady Carney, who registered his first ever Varsity goal.
Senior, Ronin Hofmaster linished with three assists on the evening.
Junior, Defensman, O’Rian Lama chipped in two assists as well.
United out shot the Storm during the game 37 to 25.
“Greece has an excellent program and they are a huge school district," Staley said. "All four of their high schools combine to create one varsity team. I’m really proud of our kids for going into their home barn and coming away with a victory. This is the bounce back we needed after the loss to McQuaid, and hopefully this gives us some nice momentum heading into “The McCarthy” this weekend”
BND United will be hosting the annual David McCarthy Christmas Tournament on Friday and Saturday. Iroquois/Alden (4-1) will face off against Niagara/Wheatfield (5-0) at 6 p.m. on Friday evening. Following this game BND (4-1) will take on WFL Geneva (0-3) at 8 p.m. The consolation game will take place at noon on Saturday, with the championship game scheduled to face off at 3 p.m.
United won the Tournament last year fending off a tough Webster Schroeder squad 5-4.
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
The Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs will honor three 14-year-old veteran race horses who will officially retire on January 1, 2023. These horses have competed at the Downs this season and will be presented with a trophy commemorating their outstanding careers in the winner’s circle between races during “The Day of Distinction” that will be held on Saturday, December 17. Post time for the first race is 3 p.m.
Two pacers and one trotter have finished their careers at Batavia and will hang up their harness for the final time.
Freaky Flyer (Dontgetinmyway-The Nanny) 458-63-68-66 - 1:53.2 - $374,773
Although Freaky Flyer has been a fixture at Batavia Downs for the last nine years, he has raced his heart out at tracks from New York to Florida ever since his 2-year-old campaign without ever missing a year of action. “The Freak” as he is known, averaged 35 starts per year his entire career and had his best season since 2018 this year, winning a total of 10 races, four of which were at Batavia. After registering his fourth highest annual earnings total in 2022 ($40,418), he has left the building and entered his “forever home” with his new owners in Avon, New York where he’s being spoiled with his favorite treat: bananas. Trainer Rose Russo owned and raced Freaky Flyer prior to his retirement.
Bettor’s Reward (Bettors Delight-Romancing The Sea) 267-43-30-32 - 1:51.3 - $453,380
Bettor’s Reward made his very first pari-mutuel start at Batavia Downs on September 28, 2010 and got his first lifetime pari-mutuel victory there two weeks later, winning a maiden race in 2:03.1. After having success in the New York Sire Stakes at three, Bettor’s Reward went on to become a hard-knocking Open class aged pacer in Canada and on the New York/New Jersey circuit. For two years he faced the likes of Golden Receiver, Escape The News, Up The Credit, Statesman N, Hypnotic Blue Chip, Aracache Hanover and Western Shore. Unfortunately he suffered from soundness issues from 2014 to 2018 and only made 14 starts during that time. But he came back strong in 2019 and raced 147 starts his final four years and closed out his career with six wins in 2022, his last coming at Batavia on October 8. Bettor’s Reward is owned by Fortunate One LLC.
Parkhill Horton (Oaklea Julian-Guardian Image) 321-36-40-54 - 1:54.2 - $198,454
He was never a star or stakes winner, but Parkhill Horton came to work every week for 13 years and earned his way to a well deserved retirement. He’s a horse that liked to leave and often found himself on the front, trotting his best with the lead. His lifetime mark of 1:54.2 was taken at Vernon Downs in 2016, but his win in 1:58 at Batavia this year was his fastest since 2017. And his $27,508 in earnings this year was also his second best one year bank deposit of his life. His final start at Batavia will be on Wednesday (Dec. 14). Parkhill Horton is owned and trained by Rachelle Mungillo.
Post Time for the final card of racing on Saturday (Dec.17) was moved from 6 p.m. to 3 p.m. to accommodate fans of both harness racing and the Buffalo Bills after the game between them and the Miami Dolphins was flexed to Saturday night at 8:15 p.m. The clubhouse will open their doors at 2:30 p.m. and will offer a prime rib and shrimp buffet that will be served from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Railbar will be open from 2:30 p.m. until the end of the last race, which will be approximately 7 p.m., however it will not remain open for the Bills game.
Press release:
W/E Dec. 4
Div. 1: Junior Trent Woods Alexander: 12 pt 6 assist in loss to Wellsville 51-38. Trent Woods 14 points 4 assist 5 steals in win 66-38. Trent made all tournament team at AtticaDiv. 2: Braedyn Chambry Byron-Bergenf Braedyn tallied 31 pts and grabbed 15 rebounds in a season opening win over EMHCS. He followed that performance up with a 30 pt and 18 rebound effort in the opening round of the Warsaw tournament, leading the Bees to their second win. Early foul trouble landed Chambry on the bench for much of the first half, but he still managed to lead his team to the tournament title with 18 pts and 12 rebounds.
Jordan Welker Notre Dame : Jordan scored 28 pts with 7 assists and 6 steals to earn Player of the Game honors as ND beat Geneseo in the Way-Co Showcase.
W/E Dec. 11
Div. 1: Cole Harding Attica: We were down 14 in the 2nd half and Cole led us back and we won in overtime. Cole had 33 points and 10 rebounds. 25 points in the 4th quarter and overtimeDiv. 2: Connor Scott Elba: Connor had 30pts to lead Elba to a win over Albion.
Elba (1-1) beat Wheatland-Chili in Girls Basketball on Tuesday, 82-29.
Sydney Reilly lead the Lady Lancers with 19 points and notched a double-double, getting 10 assists. She also had eight rebounds. Reilly hit eight of nine field goal attempts and three of four three-point tries. She also had seven steals.
Mariah Ognibene scored 14 points and had eight rebounds.
Lydia Ross scored 13 points and Haile Scouten scored 12.
Byron-Bergen is now 2-0 and Notre Dame drops to 2-1 after the Bees secured a 46-43 win in Girls Basketball on Tuesday.
No stats are available for Byron-Bergen.
For Notre Dame, Amelia McCulley scored 20 points, hitting five of 11 three-point attempts. Nina Bartz scored six points and Emma Sisson scored five.
Ron Beback Jr. will be presented with the Good Samaritan Award by the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and Batavia Downs for his heroic actions to save an overturned kayaker from drowning this past summer. The ceremony will take place in the winner’s circle between races during “The Day of Distinction” that will be held on Saturday, December 17. Post time for the first race is 3 p.m.
The incident occurred when Beback was out fishing on August 31 at Horseshoe Lake at the De Witt Recreation area in Batavia, New York. As he was taking his fishing gear to the water, he was approached by a man who was yelling, “She fell out of the kayak!” The man’s friend was an older woman who was unfamiliar with the currents in the lake on a windy day, tipped over and was unable to get back upright.
Beback dashed to his truck to get his kayak, paddled out to the middle of the lake and was able to get the woman back in her kayak before dragging her to the center island where they waited for authorities to come in a boat and get her back to shore. The event was well documented in the local news and Beback was greeted as a hero when he arrived to race at Batavia Downs that night.
Ever humble, Beback didn’t want any notoriety for his heroics and simply said in an interview, “I’m just glad I ended up there that day and was able to help.”
Beback’s actions were representative of the caring and helpful nature harness racing horsemen and women are known for and as such, not only helped bring someone in dire straits to safety, but also put the sport in a very positive light nationally. And UNY-USHWA and Batavia Downs are pleased to present him with this award.
Post Time for the final card of racing on Saturday (Dec.17) was moved from 6 p.m. to 3 p.m. to accommodate fans of both harness racing and the Buffalo Bills after the game between them and the Miami Dolphins was flexed to Saturday night at 8:15 p.m. The clubhouse will open their doors at 2:30 p.m. and will offer a prime rib and shrimp buffet that will be served from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Railbar will be open from 2:30 p.m. until the end of the last race, which will be approximately 7 p.m., however it will not remain open for the Bills game.
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