The Upstate New York Chapter of the United Harness Writers Association is honoring a farrier with its 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award, Harness Link reports.

The UNY-USHWA will present Ray Cable with the award trackside during the association’s Night of Distinction on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Batavia Downs. It is the closing night of the meet, Tim Bojarski writes.

The patriarch of four generations of horseshoers, Cable got his start in 1957 at the tender age of 12 as his father Phillip’s apprentice. Phillip shod horses on the Grand Circuit and county fairs across the country before permanently setting up shop at Batavia Downs in 1960.

“Cable has shod thousands of horses over the years and from every class ranging from the bottom claimers to the top competing in the Open, from the barns of trainers across the U.S., as well as Canada,” Bojarski writes. “Cable has shod some of the best in the business including the locally owned Bay’s Fella, which won the $272,458 Breeders Crown Open Pace in 1990.

Ray CableRay is one of four brothers who made their marks in the trade — Chuck, Phillip Jr. and Leon. Ray’s son Ray Jr., as well as his grandsons Kelly and Chris followed suit as racetrack farriers. In total, 14 Cables have made a living as farriers — Phillip Sr., Phillip Jr., Chuck, Raymond Sr., Leon, Tim, Thomas, Michael, Raymond Jr., Chris, Kelly and Anthony.