Five pacers and five high school students will head behind the starting gate in the third 'Dash for Cash,' to be held Saturday, September 15 at Batavia Downs.
Since August 1, the high school seniors have been in training at Batavia, learning the complete equine experience associated with driving and caring for standardbred racehorses that are featured at the historic Genesee County oval.
On Saturday night, after the fifth race at approximately 7:30 p.m., the five seniors will sit next to their professional trainer in custom made double-seated jog carts and race twice around the nation’s oldest lighted half-mile harness racetrack for their share of $7,500 in college scholarship funds.
The winner of the scholarship race will receive $3,000 in scholarship funds; the second-place finisher will earn $2,000; the third place finisher will receive $1,200, then $800 and $500, respectively, for the fourth and fifth-place finishers.
“We’re extremely excited to conduct the scholarship race for the third year in a row,” said Batavia Downs GM Todd Haight. “These kids have really trained hard and we’re expecting a very close race on Saturday.”
The scholarship race is a partnership of the New York Sire Stakes, the Harness Horse Breeders of New York, the Western New York Harness Horsemen’s Association, Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs.
Saturday night will also feature Batavia's second 'old-fashion night' of the season, with Sahlen’s Hot Dog and sodas just 50 cents beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Paddock Room.
The field for the 2012 Scholarship Race is below.
Post - Horse - Student - Professional - High School
1 - Irish Mile - Lindsay Hilburger - Dave McNeight III - Notre Dame of Batavia
2 - Sonic Jade - Sonia Nevinger - Mike Baumeister - Alexander High
3 - Dont Mess With Jess - Jessica Levins - Ron Beback Jr. - Batavia High
4 - Nowak Rules - Jamie Marshall - Jim Graham - Elba High
5 - Queen For A Day - Leanne King - Mike Pokornowski - Pembroke High
(With files from Batavia Downs)