Batavia: 5,000 victories for driver Kevin Cummings

When Kevin Cummings won with Tymal Envoy (1:58, $5.08) in the ninth race at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Dec. 6) night, he registered the 5,000th win of his illustrious 36-year career.

Cummings comes from a family steeped in harness racing lineage. His father John Cummings Sr. and brothers John Cummings Jr., Tony Cummings and Todd Cummings all trained and drove at Batavia Downs going back to 1979, with the brothers getting a hands-on education from their father at an early age.

After starting to drive at age 19 in 1989, Cummings developed into a stellar driver who has been near the top of the leaderboard almost every year ever since. And throughout his career, Cummings has been a high-demand driver and as a result, has won a slew of driving titles in western New York, including five at Batavia Downs since the racino era began in 2005. He has also finished second five times at The Downs during that same time period.

Cummings is not only a desired driver by local trainers, he also draws some of the best visiting horses during stakes season when the New York Sire Stakes are in town. Plus, he's had the privilege of sitting behind the great $7 million dollar man, Foiled Again, in 2016 when they won the Downs' signature event, the Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace in 1:52 2/5. Cummings also won the 2006 Kane with Michael Scores in 1:52 1/5.

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In 2021 when Cummings hit the 4,000 win mark, he reflected by saying, "It means a lot, it's a good milestone and I'd like to get to 5,000. But I don't know if that will happen." Well, it only took four years to get there, and at only 55-years of age now, 6,000 appears to be a very achievable goal for the savvy driving veteran.

Cummings' career numbers now show 5,001 wins from 28,742 starts, including 4,676 seconds and 4,223 thirds, giving him a lifetime UDR of .313 and earnings of just under $27 million.

At the current Batavia Downs meet, Cummings now sits second for dash wins with 80, along with 80 seconds and 68 thirds which have earned him over $640,000 in purses.

--press release (Batavia)--