by Todd Haight, promotional marketing specialist, Batavia Downs Casino

Batavia NY — Batavia Downs Casino will bring the curtain down on its 2010 harness racing season this Saturday (Dec. 4) with a special tribute to “The Happy Handicapper,” the late Robert J “Bob” Summers, long-time horse racing writer and columnist for the Buffalo News.

The seventh race of Saturday’s 12-race card will be dedicated as the Bob Summers Memorial Pace. Summers, who died in September of a heart attack at age 66, covered horse racing for the Buffalo News for the past 25 years. His column, “The Happy Handicapper,” was popular with horse racing enthusiasts across Western New York and Southern Ontario.

It is our honor to host the Bob Summers Memorial Pace. Bob was a fair and knowledgeable writer and a friend to everyone in the racing department. He was a great guy and we will miss him.

Bob’s wife of 42 years, Sheila, and his daughter, Samantha, will be trackside to congratulate the winning driver, trainer and owner of the race. Approximate post time for the Summers Pace is 8:30 p.m. First post is 6:40 p.m.