So, you’re looking for the latest Buffalo Raceway race results, right? I get it. There is something about that half-mile track in Hamburg, New York, that just keeps people coming back, even when the lake effect snow is trying its hardest to shut the whole operation down. But here’s the thing: if you’re just looking at who crossed the wire first yesterday, you’re missing the actual story of what’s happening on the dirt.
The 2025 season wrapped up with some wild numbers, and as we look toward the 2026 meet, the landscape has shifted. Most folks don't realize that the inside post—that's the number one hole—is basically a gold mine here. Last season, the rail won 112 times out of 698 starts. That is a 25.5% win rate. Think about that for a second. One out of every four races was won by the horse with the shortest path around the turns. If you're betting the outside, you're basically fighting physics.
The Drivers Dominating the Results Right Now
Let’s talk about Drew Monti. The guy is 30 years old and just absolutely cleaned up last year. He took the "Driver of the Meet" title with 122 victories. It was his first title at Buffalo Raceway since 2018, and honestly, it wasn't even close by the end. He was hitting the board—meaning finishing in the top three—50% of the time. If Monti was in the bike, you basically had a coin flip's chance of seeing him in the winner's circle or right next to it.
He didn't just stumble into it, though. Since June 1st of last year, he went on a tear with 50 wins in just a few months. It's that kind of momentum that carries over into the current 2026 prep.
Then you’ve got Joe Chindano Jr. and Kevin Cummings. These guys are the "old guard" and the "new threat" all rolled into one. They were chasing Monti’s tail all year. If you’re checking recent Buffalo Raceway race results and don’t see their names at the top of the program, it’s usually because of a scratch or a bad trip, not a lack of talent.
Why the Trainer Standings Matter More Than You Think
People obsess over drivers. I get it. They’re the ones in the colors. But at Buffalo, the real wizardry happens in the barns. Samuel Smith has been the king of the hill for three years straight now. In 2023, he had 49 wins. In 2024, he jumped to 62. By the end of the 2025 season, he sat at 57 wins with nearly $470,000 in purse earnings.
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When you see a Smith horse in the entries, it’s usually prepped to the nines.
But watch out for Christopher Petrelli and David Russo. Last season, Petrelli was actually more efficient than Smith in some ways, sporting a UDRS (that's basically a batting average for harness racing) of .379 compared to Smith’s .326. He doesn't start as many horses, but when he does, they're ready to fly.
Breaking Down the Record-Setting Results
Harness racing isn't just about winning; it's about the clock. Last July, a horse named AI (yep, just two letters, though not the digital kind you’re thinking of) absolutely scorched the track. Driven by Yannick Gingras, this two-year-old colt trotter hit 1:58.1. He broke a record that had been standing since 2016.
It's rare to see a track record fall on a half-mile like Hamburg, especially with the weather variables in Western New York.
And then there’s Valentine Express. This horse didn't just win; it equaled the track record for aged gelding trotters at 1:56.0. If you were looking at the Buffalo Raceway race results that week, the payouts were slim because everyone knew the horse was a monster.
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Speaking of payouts, the favorites won at a 43.55% clip in 2025. That’s actually pretty high for harness racing. It tells you the track plays fair—the best horse usually wins. But it also means that if you’re looking for a massive "longshot" payday, you’ve got to be really smart about picking against the chalk.
The Gritty Details: Track Conditions and Gear
The track itself underwent some massive renovations recently. They ditched the old wooden hub rail for pylons and added a passing lane. If you’re an old-timer, you remember when a horse got pinned on the rail and that was it—game over. Now, that passing lane (the "Buffalo Lane") gives the horse in the pocket a chance to sprint home.
This change has fundamentally altered the Buffalo Raceway race results over the last year. You see way more movement in the final turn.
Also, don't sleep on the "Trotter of the Meet," Big Baller Beane. This 5-year-old gelding won four times in 21 starts against Open competition. That might not sound like a lot, but he was often stuck with outside posts. He earned over $57,000 just by being tough as nails.
How to Read Today’s Results Like a Pro
If you are looking at a results sheet right now, don't just look at the horse's name. Look at the "NW" conditions. That stands for "Non-Winners."
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Buffalo Raceway often runs races like "NW $2,250 last 4 starts." This is where the "class drops" happen. A horse that was racing for $10,000 last week might drop into a $6,000 race today. That is usually a massive signal.
- Check the Post Position: Did the winner come from post 1 or 2? If so, the track might be "speed-biased" today.
- Look at the Driver/Trainer Combo: When Drew Monti drives for Samuel Smith, the odds usually tank for a reason.
- Watch the Replays: Buffalo Raceway offers "Races on Demand" on their site. Sometimes a horse finishes 5th but was totally blocked. That horse is your "hidden gem" for next time.
Honestly, the best way to get ahead of the game is to stop looking at the wins and starts looking at the "In the Money" percentages. A horse that is always 2nd or 3rd is eventually going to get the right trip and blow the doors off the field.
What’s Next for Buffalo Raceway?
The live racing scene is currently gearing up for the 2026 spring meet. Stall applications were just made available in early January, and the buzz is that the horse population is going to be even more competitive this year.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, you should start tracking the qualifiers. These are the "practice" races horses have to run to prove they’re fit. Often, the Buffalo Raceway race results for qualifiers show you which trainers have their horses ready to peak right at the start of the season.
To get the most out of your analysis, head over to the official Buffalo Raceway website and dive into their "Stats and Records" section. They keep a running tally of the leading drivers and trainers that is updated way faster than the big national sites. You can also sign up for text alerts from the race office—just text "buffaloraceway" to 1-833-257-8471. It’s mostly for horsemen, but if you want to know about track delays or scratches before anyone else, that’s the insider way to do it.
Don't just be a casual observer. Dig into the UDRS stats for the current month to see which driver has the "hot hand" before the odds catch up. Check the weather reports for Hamburg, NY—if the track is rated "sloppy" or "good" instead of "fast," throw the speed stats out the window and look for the grinders who can handle a heavy surface. This is how you actually win at Buffalo.