Young Guns edge Veterans in Saratoga charity showdown

Sunday’s matinee at Saratoga Casino Hotel featured a Drivers Challenge for charity. “Young Guns” Brett Beckwith, Mitch Cushing, Jacob Cutting and Matt Athearn got the better of “The Veterans” Wally Hennessey, Mark Beckwith, Chris Long and Jimmy Devaux in the four-race challenge to benefit the Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program and Harness Horse Youth Foundation.

Although the “old guard” won three of the four races that comprised the challenge, it was the Young Guns who “outpointed” the Vets by a total score of 54-50 as points were awarded to the top five finishers in each race.

CAN AM REPLAY

Brett Beckwith piloted the lone winner in the contest for the Young Guns as he guided Can Am to a decisive victory on Sunday en route to being the top point earner (18) among all the participants. Mitch Cushing was the only driver to record at least one point in all four of the contest races (points were awarded to the top five finishers in each race.)

Wally Hennessey led the Veterans with 17 points while Jimmy Devaux and Chris Long joined Hennessey in piloting a winner in the contest.

An incredible $48,000 was raised in the charity event which was put on by Jessica Hallett. A big thank you to all those who participated in the event including Hallett, all of the dozens of sponsors and the drivers who took part in the challenge.  

Live racing continues on Monday at Saratoga with a matinee that begins at 12pm. 

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway