by Tim Bojarski, President, UNY USHWA

Akron, NY — The Batavia Downs meet isn’t over, but the competition for the leading driver and trainer by wins certainly is. Kevin Cummings and JD Perrin are the leading dash driver and trainer for the 2015 season, repeating their dominance from last year and they will be honored by the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.

Kevin Cummings currently has 131 victories during the meet, which total 49 more than his nearest competitor.

Cummings currently has 131 victories during the meet, which total 49 more than his nearest competitor. And his $683,838 in purses won is at least a quarter-million dollars more than anyone else.

For the year, Cummings has already posted career numbers with 334 wins, $1.77 million in earnings and a UDR of .367. That UDR ranks him 10th in North America among all drivers. Cummings’ seasonal totals only pile on to his career statistics that include 3,304 wins and $13.7 million in earnings.

Batavia Downs photos

JD Perrin posted 56 wins for the meet and his horses earned $236,822 for his efforts.

Perrin posted 56 wins for the meet and his horses earned $236,822 for his efforts. He is also firing at a lofty .376 UTR. As far as the entire year is concerned, Perrin has 125 wins, $633,747 in earnings and a UTR of .353. That UTR ranks him 10th as well among all trainers in North America to this point in 2015. Perrin’s career numbers include 569 wins and $2.4 million in purses.

UNY-USHWA has also named James Clouser Jr. their recipient of the 2015 Rising Star Award.

Since relocating his base of operations to Upstate New York early last summer, Clouser has been on a tear. After only making minimal starts as a conditioner from 2008 until 2013, Clouser made some noise in 2014, winning 42 races from 191 outings and banking $229,887 in earnings.

But this year he’s more than doubled all those numbers. With only days of live racing left this year, Clouser has won 86 races and earned $454,359 in purses on the strength of 286 starts. He is also boasting a gaudy .439 UTR. The 86 wins make him the top dash winning trainer in North America for conditioners with fewer than 300 starts.

For the current Batavia Downs meet, Clouser is the second leading trainer (behind JD Perrin) with 42 wins from 140 starts, $207,894 in earnings and a .431 UTR.

Kevin Cummings, JD Perrin and James Clouser Jr. will receive their awards in the Purple Haze Winner’s Circle at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Dec. 12) during UNY-USHWA’s Night of Distinction.