SPORTS digest
MVRC sets all-time record daily handle
AUSTINTOWN
Buoyed by near ideal weather conditions, full competitive fields and the holiday season, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course recorded an all-time record handle for Tuesday’s program. A total of $1,497,170 was wagered over the nine races, more than $100,000 better than the previous record of $1,395,031 set on Steel Valley Sprint Day, on Nov. 21.
“We are pleased and thankful by the response bettor’s across North America have shown for our racing product,” said Mark Loewe, Vice-President of Ohio Racing for Penn Gaming. “Our large and competitive fields, along with a solid and consistent racing schedule, and the near ideal weather conditions, culminated with today’s record handle.”
Racing resumes today.
The 20-cent Buckeye ∫ Pick 6 with a 20 percent takeout grew to more than $62,477 for today’s nine-race calendar year-ending program and features a mandatory payout at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.
On Tuesday’s program, a total of five winning tickets correctly selected all six winners in the Buckeye Pick 6 which spans Races 4 through 9; those bettor’s each received $2,935.90 for the 20-cent minimum wager.
Browns donating $10,000 to food bank
CLEVELAND
The Browns’ first victory of the season is also a win for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.
Some fans upset over the team’s poor performance this year were planning a “Perfect Season Parade” if the Browns ended up winless. More than $10,000 had been donated to a fund to help pay for expenses such as security and bathroom facilities for the parade.
But the event was canceled after the Browns beat the San Diego Chargers 20-17 on Saturday for their first win in 2016 and first in more than a year. Organizers said the money from the parade fund would be given to the food bank.
And on Tuesday, the Browns said they would match the $10,000 raised by fans.
Browns waive Cooper, former first-round pick
CLEVELAND
The Browns waived offensive guard Jonathan Cooper, a former first-round pick by Arizona.
The team made the move on Tuesday in advance of guard Alvin Bailey returning from a two-game NFL suspension. Bailey was suspended for violating the league’s personal-conduct policy after he was arrested on drunken driving charges earlier this season.
Cooper was acquired on waivers from the New England Patriots in October. He played in five games for Cleveland, starting the past three as the Browns offensive line has been ransacked by injuries all season. Starting guards Joel Bitonio and John Greco both sustained season-ending foot injuries.
The Cardinals selected Cooper with the No. 7 overall pick in 2013. The former North Carolina standout broke his leg before the start of his rookie season and was placed on injured reserve.
Rex Ryan fired from Buffalo after two years
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.
The Bills have fired coach Rex Ryan ahead of their last game of the season after he failed to lead Buffalo to the playoffs.
Bills officials announced Ryan’s firing on Twitter on Tuesday, after a Week 16 loss to the Dolphins dropped the Bills to 7-8 and officially eliminated the team from playoff contention. The loss extended the NFL’s longest active playoff drought to 17 seasons.
Ryan was 15-16 in two seasons with Buffalo.
The Bills also said on Twitter that Ryan’s brother, Rob Ryan, was fired from his position as an assistant head coach with the responsibility to oversee defense. Rob was hired in January to improve a defense that finished 19th in the NFL last year.
Rex Ryan came to Buffalo saying this would be his last job after six seasons with the Jets.
The Bills owners, Terry and Kim Pegula, hired Ryan as a defensive specialist with the belief that he could bring the team back to relevance.
Staff and wire reports