by Todd Haight, GM of Live Racing, Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Mary Ann Sarama-Luce, 73, of Corfu, N.Y., died July 17, 2011, at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.

She was born January 25, 1938, in Buffalo, the daughter of the late Stanley and Florence (Szymanski) Trzaska. She was well known in the harness racing community as an accomplished owner, driver and trainer.

She had a life-long passion for the industry, being one of the area’s first women drivers. She had been a part of Batavia Downs and Buffalo Raceway since 1968 and was a member of the Western New York Harness Horseman’s Association.

During her career she won 109 races and her drives earned more than $200,000, with her last year as a driver coming in 1990. On the training side, she conditioned 107 winners, including four this year. Her purse earnings exceeded $334,000. Some of her top horses included Gold Bandit N, Top Dog Alex, Top Dog Nicholas and Easy L-Bar.

She is survived by her husband of over 20 years, Richard “Dick” Luce; children, Daniel (Jaqueline) Sudyk, Carl (Michelle Roberts) Surdyk, Lynette (Gregory) McGiveron and Scott (Deborah) Sarama; brothers, Stanley (Joni) Trzaska, Raymond (Sylvia) Trzaska and Gerald (Deb) Trzaska; 10 grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Family and friends may visit from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday (July 19) and from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday (July 20) at the Michael S. Tomaszewski Funeral & Cremation Chapel, LLC, 4120 West Main Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020, where prayers will be recited at 9:15 a.m. on Thursday (July 21) followed by a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Maximillian Kolbe Parish (East Pembroke Site), celebrated by Father Robert Orlowski. Burial will be in St. Adalberts Cemetery in Lancaster.

Memorial contributions may be made to Genesee Cancer Assistance, Inc., 16 Bank St., Batavia, NY 14020.