Jay Randall headlines 2025 Saratoga Induction night

On Wednesday (Sept. 24) night, horsemen, friends and family gathered in the Saratoga Casino Hotel grandstand to celebrate Jay Randall, Mark Beckwith, and Cash Me Out as the 2025 inductees into the Saratoga Harness Hall of Fame.

Jay Randall is a veteran horseman of Saratoga, winning over 5,100 races and $33.56 in earnings as a driver and over 200 wins and $1.6 million in earnings as a trainer over his lengthy career. His career at the Spa started in 1977 when he won the Junior Driving Championship. In 1982 he won the Johnny Page Award as an up and coming driver and his career continued to grow from there.

During his acceptance speech, Randall talked about his return from an accident he was involved in back in May 2021, one that left him hospitalized for two weeks and sidelined for 12 weeks with critical injuries. Upon his return, one of his first drives back in the seat was behind Mark Beckwith’s The Moonshadow N in a $25,000 Open Pace at Plainridge Park, a race they drew the outside as a long shot on the board. Against the odds, they won it, marking Jay Randall’s return to driving. Fast forward four years and Jay is still at the top of his game, winning races, collecting milestones and tonight, accepting the honor as a 2025 Hall of Fame inductee.

“I have to thank Frank and Maureen Salino, Jackie Greene, Rob Harmon, and Scott Mongeon. Without them, I wouldn’t be here,” Randall said. “I’d be a good driver, but I wouldn’t be here tonight [at the Hall of Fame].”

Mark Beckwith is a prominent Saratoga trainer and driver with deep roots in harness racing. He has over 5,900 wins and $33.4 million earned as a driver and over 430 wins and $2.5 million earned as a trainer. Last year, in addition to garnering the training title, Beckwith secured the record for most training wins in a single season at the Spa.

“I do believe tonight he’s looking down at me proud,” Mark Beckwith said during his acceptance speech of his late father, Bert Beckwith. Bert Beckwith was a well-respected and prominent horseman in New England.

Cash Me Out was the final inductee of the evening as the 14-year-old gelded son of Cash Hall and the Valley Victory mare China Victory raced majority of his 342 starts at the Saratoga half mile. With earnings of $1,486,925 and a record of 84-76-43, Cash Me Out earned a title as one of the winningest and richest horses to race at Saratoga.

His award was accepted by Kyle and Sietske Spagnola, who conditioned Cash Me Out for majority of his starts. The gelding is owned by Michael Traylor.

In addition to the inductees for the Class of 2025, the Saratoga Harness Hall of Fame awarded their annual Virginia O’Brien 110 percent award in which recognizes individuals who devote their life to the pursuit of harness racing, such as a groom or backstretch worker, who might not otherwise be in the limelight. The 2025 award winner was Jessica Hallett, the Saratoga Harness track photographer.

“Thank you to everyone who continues to support me and make everything I do possible. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do, so thank you,” Hallett said in her acceptance speech.

Congratulations to all of the inductees and award winners!

by Jessica Hallett for Saratoga Casino Hotel