Standardbred vs. Thoroughbred horsepeople at Saratoga

The 2024 Charity Match Race Night was a raving success at Saratoga Casino Hotel as the thoroughbred and harness racing worlds were bridged for a night of fun on Saturday, July 27.

Hosted by the Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association (SHHA), the Charity Match Race Night featured a pair of match races both contested after race 10 on the card. Standardbred horsemen Michelle Crawford and Brett Beckwith competed for the benefit of charity Franklin Community Center while thoroughbred horsemen Robbie and Katie Davis competed for Kelly’s Angels.

In the first heat, Saratoga’s current leading driver, Brett Beckwith, teed up with Scott Mongeon student Foxe Ella in post one with prolific jockey Robbie Davis in post two with Brian Cross-trained Cross Creek Samara. Leaving the gate, Brett took the early lead and Robbie bided his time until after the half to tip out and sweep around to meet on even terms. The pair dueled to the wire where Robbie and Cross Creek Samara edged out Brett and Foxe Ella for the win.

In the second split, Saratoga trainer, driver and RUS rider Michelle Crawford rode Brett Derue’s Feast Day against jockey Katie Davis and Mark Beckwith’s Echo De Meautis Fr in a RUS-style trot race. Katie was the first to send her trotter to the top and Michelle kept her within arms length throughout the mile. Michelle tipped out Feast Day in the stretch, but Katie had enough of an advantage to win by just a nose with Echo De Meautis Fr.

Though not all of the donations have been fully received, the estimated total is around or above $21,000 raised for charity. With the Davises and the thoroughbred team on top, Kelly’s Angels won the greater portion, 60 percent of each purse, totaling $12,360. The Franklin Community Center was awarded $8,240.

“The SHHA would like to thank the competitors for taking time from their busy schedules to practice together and all sponsors for making the 2024 Charity Match Race Night come to fruition,” SHHA representative Karen Kamal said.

Racing at Saratoga returns on Thursday (Aug. 1) for an evening card beginning at 5 p.m.

by Jessica Hallett, for the Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association