On Nov. 15, 2013 at Western Fair Raceway in London, Ont., Tomitta Bayama hit the winner’s circle, with Trevor Henry aboard, after leading all the way and holding on to win by a head in 1:56.4. It marked his sixth career victory, but it was also the pacer’s first of many wins for his current and longtime trainer Tom Hamm.
The now 14-year-old son of Camluck-Korinna Bayama shows 56 wins, 49 seconds and 34 thirds on his career record spanning 291 starts and contributing to a bankroll totalling $300,398. Tomitta Bayama's richest payday was back on July 9, 2012 when winning an $18,000 maiden event at Mohawk Racetrack, with Sylvain Filion on board, in 1:52.2. He returned $11.60 on the nose while winning for the first time in his career, as a three-year-old, for trainer Justin Filion.
Fun fact: Tomitta Bayama never earned more from one race and never paced faster than he did when winning that first one -- but he went on to win 55 more times and bank $286,203 after that maiden-breaking victory. And for a horse that was pretty good at winning races, he wasn't much for standing around afterwards for his winner’s circle photo. During most of those occasions, he would rare up or pace on through and head straight for the paddock.
Tomitta Bayama's front-end style has gotten him to that winner’s circle on most occasions, but back on Jan. 25, 2016, the pacer found himself sitting next to last in a full field of 10 at Woodbine Racetrack. With James MacDonald in the race bike (pictured above), the gritty pacer sprinted home like a bandit and scored the upset, paying $82.40 for a $2 win ticket -- the highest win price return throughout his career!
Sunday, Dec. 31 will mark the final career start for this blue-collar warrior, who is owned by Strathroy’s Tom Hamm and Jordan Hamm of London, Ont. Most of Tomitta Bayama's starts and wins have taken place in London. In his latest victory on Nov. 17 -- of course, in gate-to-wire fashion -- he returned $10.30 to his backers while racing on his home turf, with Samuel Fillion aboard.
When the clock strikes midnight and the calendar flips to Jan. 1, 2024, Tomitta Bayama will turn 15, reaching the mandatory retirement age for Standardbreds in Ontario. Western Fair will host the veteran pacer on home turf one last time for the $9,000 Auld Lang Syne on its New Year's Eve program. Scheduled as the 10th race finale, the Auld Lang Syne features older horses and Tomitta Bayama is the lone 14-year-old in the race, so he has been assigned the inside post for this final career start.
"Best of luck to his connections and congratulations on a job well done with him over the years," said track announcer Shannon 'Sugar' Doyle. "Enjoy your retirement old boy!"
Post time for Sunday's card is 7:30 p.m.
To view Sunday's complete harness racing entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Western Fair Raceway.
(With files from The Raceway at Western Fair District)