Hamburg, NY---With wife Ann, son Jim, and mom and dad McNeight in attendance, the 4th of July was a very special night for trainer-driver Jim McNeight, as the Lockport native recorded his 3,000th win guiding Hugs Again to a 5-1/2 length victory in the fourth race here at Buffalo Raceway.
“My whole family was here, so it was very special”, said McNeight.” My mentor was my dad, who always had a couple of horses, and I started helping him when I was twelve. I remember winning my first race for my dad on a horse named Jersey Night”.
When asked, who was his favorite horse to drive, McNeight quickly answered, “Jack Sparrow, he was an Open trotter, and I always preferred trotters over pacers, but Avon Rainy Road was a really good pacer I used to drive”.
McNeight’s biggest win came aboard Dee Magic Man in the $90,000 Hopeful Stakes here at Buffalo in 2001. It was a stakes and track record at the time, as the two-year-old pacer won by 5-1/4 lengths in 1:56.4.
“That race meant a lot to me”, recalled McNeight. “I finished second in the Hopeful the year before with a horse named Golfman, who was Dee Magic Man’s full brother”, he said with a laugh.
At 47 years of age, McNeight is one of the most respected horsemen on the Buffalo-Batavia circuit, currently serving on the Western New York Harness Horsemen’s Association board of directors, representing drivers and trainers.
Hugs Again ($4.70), is owned by John O. Sixt and trainer Judy Blaun. It was the second win this year in 13 attempts, and the winning time of 1:56.1 establishes a new season’s mark.
To view this race and others from last night go to Buffalo Raceway :: Races on Demand
Racing will resume on Friday July 6, with first post scheduled for 6:40 pm.
Sam Pendolino..........Publicity Director/Public Relations
spendolino@buffaloraceway.com
Photos by Paul White