by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY — With Buffalo Raceway’s 2015 season now in the books, it can be said that it was a successful campaign both on and off the track.

Buffalo Raceway’s on-track handle was even this year with fewer race dates compared to 2014 while the export handle numbers were up three percent on a daily basis.

On the track, there were 10 records that were either broken or tied.

For the trotters, Winkys Pride set the new standard for all-age mares and older mark with a 1:57 time. Serendipitious went 1:58.1 to establish a new record for the 4-year-old mare trotters.

The all age, all age gelding and older gelding standard for pacers was destroyed by Fireyourguns with a 1:52 clocking. Instant Riches made the record book with a 1:54.3 time for the 4-year-old horse pacers while Skyway Tia tied the 1:55 time for 4-year-old mare pacers.

Steve Roth photo

Kevin Cummings won his second consecutive driving title with 202 wins.

Also on the track, driver Kevin Cummings made a serious run at Jim Morrill Jr.’s all-time win mark of 214 set in 2006 but came up 12 victories short.

All was not lost, however. Cummings did win his second consecutive driving title with 202 wins, the third most in Buffalo Raceway history. Morrill (214) and Shawn Gray (206) are the only other drivers to go over 200 victories in a season at the Hamburg half-mile oval.

Cummings was also the leading purse earner with $1,086,171. His winnings were the most in Buffalo Raceway history and he became only the second driver to go over the $1 million mark. Gray managed to do it in 2012 with $1.05 million in purses.

Cummings also currently sits sixth nationally in the UDR standings with a .371 percentage.

Drew Monti, only 20 years old, took second place in the driver’s standings with 140 wins while Gray was third with 123.

JD Perrin captured his third straight trainer’s title by conditioning 70 winners. John Mungillo took the runner-up spot with 54 victories and Kirk Desmond was third with 49.

The Prophet Mary had the most trips to the winner’s circle on the season as the pacer scored nine times. Justgottogetthere was the top trotter with eight wins and $48,217 in earnings.

Jettison was the leading overall money earner as the pacer collected $50,314.

The post time favorite won 41.99 percent of the time.

There were seven dead heats for the win while there were seven for the place position and four ties in the show spot.

Racing is expected to resume in mid-January, 2016, with a similar schedule tentatively set as in 2015.

For more information, including the latest news, race replays, results and simulcast schedule, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.