by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
Hamburg, NY — “I never thought I’d get my first winor even get a hundred wins let alone four thousand,” driver Ray Fisher Jr.said after he posted his 4,000th career victory aboard Autocorect Hanover($9.80) in the eighth race at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night (March 29).
“I didn’t even know I was close to four thousand winsuntil a few weeks ago. I was kind of surprised,” Fisher Jr. said.
Steve Roth photo
Ray Fisher Jr. celebrated his 4000th win with wife Ryan Swift in the winner’s circle.
The 48-year-old Fisher Jr. suffered a broken back in a trackmishap in 2013 and that slowed his march to 4,000 wins. It possibly could haveended his career but he was positive he would come back.
“Not driving again never entered my mind, Fisher Jr. said about the possibility of notgetting on the sulky again. “I may have come back too soon physicallyafter breaking my back, but mentally I had to get out there as quickly as Icould. It was just something I had to do.”
He’s definitely back in his comfort zone now as he currentlysits in third place at Buffalo Raceway with 56 victories. Fisher Jr. piled up81 wins last season at the Hamburg half-mile oval and added 98 more in the fallmeet at Batavia Downs.
Fisher Jr. said he enjoys the competition of driving,especially going against the likes of Jim Morrill Jr., Larry Stalbaum, ShawnGray and Kevin Cummings on the Western New York circuit. “They are toughto beat for sure but I am fortunate that I get to do it.”
And is 5,000 wins in the cards for Fisher Jr., a winner ofnearly $17 million in career purses? He didn’t discount it.
“With the evolution of the catch driver, you can get alot of chances every night. I’ve always had good opportunities here or at othertracks so hopefully that will continue,” Fisher Jr. said in conclusion.
In the co-featured $8,200 paces for mares, the two favoritesfound the winner’s circle. Dontch Remember (Morrill Jr.) won the opener in1:57.2 and returned $3.10 while Ben McNeil piloted Looney Dune to the $5.00victory in 1:56.1.
Drew Monti tripled and Morrill Jr. finished the night with adriving double. JD Perrin conditioned a pair of winners.
Racing will resume on Friday night at Buffalo Raceway withan 11-race program scheduled for 5 p.m.