At the conclusion of this morning’s Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. board meeting that featured glowing reports – financial and otherwise -- from management, Director Vincent Horrigan of Chautauqua County commended the staff for a job well done during a tough stretch.

“With all the turbulence in Albany, the results speak for themselves,” said Horrigan, a “holdover” from the previous board that was terminated in early May through legislation approved by Gov. Kathy Hochul and leaders in the state Assembly and Senate. “I wish to congratulate the incredible team, from the lowest worker to Henry and the rest of the management team.”

Horrigan is one of 11 directors who were reappointed by their governing bodies to four-year terms as stipulated by the new guidelines.

New members of the board, all of whom were in attendance today, are Charles Zambito (Genesee County), Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney (City of Buffalo), Terrance Baxter (Cayuga County), James A. Wilmot (Monroe County) and Jennifer Hibit (Erie County). 

Wilmot, the newest director, is in charge of casino development for the Wilmorite Management Group in Rochester.

Schuyler County officials have yet to announce their representative to the 17-member board.

While each municipality that benefits from WROTB proceeds (operational earnings and surcharge) has one director, the May legislation instituted a weighted voting system, eliminating the one-director, one-vote format that had been in force.

As a result, the majority of the voting power rests with Democratic Party-led counties of Erie and Monroe and the cities of Buffalo and Rochester. The remainder of the municipalities are Republican-leaning, and some of those are joining together in litigation challenging the recent changes, citing Home Rule entitlement.

Today’s meeting was the second straight conference that was informational only since four of the new directors have yet to be licensed by the New York Gaming Commission. WROTB President/Chief Executive Officer Henry Wojtaszek said he expects that to happen soon, likely in time for committee meetings and the full board meeting on Aug. 23-24.

Chief Financial Officer Jacquelyne Leach had the floor for most of the 90-minute session, providing monetary figures that shine a favorable light on the Batavia Downs Gaming operation.

Calling it “a very strong month,” Leach said the “net win” for June of $7.06 million is the highest ever for June – beating the corporation’s projected amount by 8 percent. Net win is what is left in the Video Lottery Terminal machines after paying out the customers.

She reported that credits played in June were $97 million – up $9.3 million from June 2022 – and attendance for the month hit the 80,000 mark – up 12,000 from June 2022.

Year-to-date earnings are at $4.6 million, she said, which represents a $1.5 million increase from the same period last year.

Earnings and surcharge (5 percent) go back to the member municipalities. Genesee County has received $106,544 in earnings and surcharge thus far in 2023, including $4,484 in the month of June.

Leach attributed food and beverage sales, special events, the Batavia Downs Concert Series and the success of the Hotel at Batavia Downs as contributing factors to the uptick in activity. She said the hotel has generated $262,000 in profit so far in 2023.

“The hotel (which was purchased by WROTB in April 2021) has proven to be such a great addition to the corporation – a tremendous benefit,” she said.

Looking ahead, Leach said that July “is shaping up to be another record month for the Batavia Downs Gaming side of the business.”

In other developments:

-- Wojtaszek said management’s plan is to reduce the number of Off-Track Betting branches from the current eight to five by 2025. He said more emphasis is being placed on EZ Bet, which are self-betting terminals in existing bars and restaurants. WROTB has 27 EZ Bet locations across Western New York.

-- Director of Live Racing Don Hoover reported that Wednesday’s opening night of harness racing generated a handle of $242,306, which puts it in the top 10 of all handles since WROTB purchased the track 20 years ago. The 53-date season concludes on Dec. 9 but Hoover is in discussions with the Western New York Harness Horsemen’s Association to schedule racing dates next January and February.

-- VP/Administration William White advised that Batavia Downs Gaming’s pay scale for security guards is lagging behind the area’s average and is looking at forging an agreement with the employee union to increase the pay as soon as possible. White said that the company is having trouble recruiting and retaining security personnel. 

Graham Manufacturing is currently looking for welders, and Justin Deleo might be a good candidate for one of those openings if he was just a little bit older.

The Byron-Bergen sophomore won a welding competition at the Genesee County Fair under the supervision of William Muoio from Graham.

Justin loves welding, but perhaps, unfortunately for Graham, he also loves farming.

He's thought about welding as a career, "but I really would just like to learn how to weld and then use that in running my own farm," Justin said.

He got his start welding by helping out his grandfather on his farm, Forest Lawn, at the bottom of the hill by Genesee Community College.

"I like building things," Justin said. "I have worked on my grandpa's farm, and I helped him weld hay wagons, and ever since then, I've been interested in welding."

For first prize, Justin had his choice between a set of torches and a mask or an auto shade helmet, and he picked the helmet, said Todd Hofheins, Future Farmers of America advisor.

Hofheins said the welding competition and a tractor skills competition are organized by FFA and 4-H and supported by sponsors who provided more than $3,000 in prize money and prizes.

In welding, second place went to Michael Jewart, a student at Pioneer, and third place went to Cooper Harkins, from Pavilion.

In the tractor competition for junior category:

• Cooper Harkins
• Evan Winspear
• Justin Deleo

In the senior competition:

• Carson Warner
• Ian Keberle
• Michael Jewart
• Colton Yasses

Photos by Howard Owens

Editor's Note: The Batavian has a booth at the fair in partnership with WBTA as part of the official Genesee County Fair Media Center. Stop by to say hello and enter our eagle-drawing contest in the Exhibition Building. We are an exhibitor and are providing coverage of the fair all week long as a proud supporter of the county fair, 4-H and the dedicated volunteers of the Ag Society. 

If you appreciate our fair coverage, as well as all of our coverage of Genesee County, you can help us continue news coverage by signing up today for Early Access Pass.

There was a lot of fun and excitement on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the Genesee County Fair with the annual Small Fry Tractor Pull.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Editor's Note: The Batavian has a booth at the fair in partnership with WBTA as part of the official Genesee County Fair Media Center. Stop by to say hello and enter our eagle-drawing contest in the Exhibition Building. We are an exhibitor and are providing coverage of the fair all week long as a proud supporter of the county fair, 4-H and the dedicated volunteers of the Ag Society. 

If you appreciate our fair coverage, as well as all of our coverage of Genesee County, you can help us continue news coverage by signing up today for Early Access Pass.

Press Release:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990, is the single most comprehensive and far-reaching piece of legislation protecting the rights of people with disabilities from discrimination ever enacted, eclipsing the handful of laws that had existed. 

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) will be celebrating the ADA at its Annual Picnic. It will place from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26, at Kiwanis Park at 3808 West Main Street Road in Batavia. There will be free food and games including a Scavenger Hunt. 

When the ADA was signed 33 years ago people envisioned curb cuts and accessible building entrances. Today, the ADA is helping people live independently, get an education, find housing, and build a career.

If you need additional information please call Catherine DeMare at 585-815-8501, extension 400, or email her at cdemare@wnyil.org.

Press Release:

Did you know that radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that is released in rock, soil, and water? Radon has no smell, taste, or color and kills more than 21,000 people each year. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

Radon can build up to dangerous levels in your home, which can occur in new homes or older homes. “Radon can enter your home through cracks in the foundation, cracks in basement walls, holes, joints, dirt floors, sump pump holes, suspended floors, and in the well-water supply,” stated Darren Brodie, Environmental Health Director for Genesee
and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Any house that has contact with the ground has the potential for radon to enter the home.”

Both the EPA and New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) have identified Genesee County as having a high average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter). “Testing your home for radon is the only way to know if high levels are present and corrective action is needed,” stated Brodie. When radon tests are
completed, they should be performed in the lowest primary living area of the home. 

GO Health encourages residents to test for radon when buying a home, doing a major renovation, every 2 years if there is a mitigation system installed or every 5 years otherwise. You can purchase a short-term radon test kit from your local hardware store or through a radon-testing laboratory.

A limited supply of Radon Test Kits are also available for Genesee County Residents at the Genesee County Fair this week from 12 p.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. Stop by the health department booth and ask for a free kit. For more information on radon or other GO Health programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org

Press Release:

There are some new faces in the halls at Byron-Bergen Elementary School this summer. 20 graduate students from SUNY Geneseo are participating in the Summer Reading Clinic, part of SUNY Geneseo’s Reading and Literacy Graduate Program. The clinic pairs a graduate student, many of whom are working teachers, with a school-aged student. Together, they set literacy goals and develop strategies to achieve them.

Alexis Hamlin is a graduate student participant. She teaches 7th and 8th grade where she encounters many students who struggle with foundational literacy skills. “By the time they get to 7th and 8th grade, we don’t have time to work on basic skills,” said Hamlin “I’m in the literacy program specifically to get a better idea of how my students struggle and the basics of their skills. I want to incorporate other instruction that will target those skills and close that gap between their reading level and their grade level.” 

Participant Stephanie Wall believes in the value of one-on-one literacy work to give students the tools they will need for their next grade level. She started the clinic by doing assessments, looking at students’ past work, and talking with the student. She uses those components to set goals. “I think this program is helping kids,” said Wall. “It’s one on one, me and them for an hour and a half. There are no other distractions, so I think it has been very helpful for some of the students.”

Isabelle Selvek was eager to participate in the clinic because summer is the only time she has for fieldwork. She is a full-time second-grade teacher, but her future career aspirations rely on completing her master’s degree. The clinic is one of the last requirements she must complete for her degree. “My hope is to move into a literacy teacher role in the future, but this program also allows me to move into a high school setting.”

“It really is a win/win,” said Byron-Bergen Director of Instructional Services Betsy Brown. “The clinic allows educators to complete the hours needed for their degree programs and our students have access to high- quality one-on-one literacy instruction which not only helps prevent loss of skills due to summer slip, but also gives them the tools they will need to excel in the fall.”

The Byron-Bergen students are not the only ones benefiting from the Summer Literacy Clinic, though. These teachers will take the skills developed at Byron-Bergen back to their home districts and classrooms. 

“This program gives us time and opportunities to do fieldwork,” said Hamlin. “This real-world experience makes it more meaningful when we apply the skills we are learning in our own classrooms.”

Submitted photos.

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) bashed Gov. Hochul’s recent plan to provide tax-payer funded health care to sex workers across the state. This new initiative, known as the “Sex Worker Health Pilot Program,” will allow the state Department of Health to set aside approximately $1 million in public funds toward primary, behavioral, and gynecological care, as well as dental care for prostitutes. In a heavy-handed move, the governor’s office authorized this program without the approval of the Legislature. Hawley is frustrated that this administration is encouraging and promoting an industry that has done so much harm to the State of New York. 

“The majority in Albany is once again pushing the boundaries of what should be normal and acceptable in our society,” said Hawley. “Prostitution in our state has increased crime and violence in our communities and decreased the quality of life for residents across Western New York. The way in which this program is being forced onto New Yorkers is nothing short of undemocratic. This new initiative by the governor is wildly irresponsible and will only encourage more prostitution within our state.”

Press Release:

Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced that one of the famous and iconic Budweiser Clydesdales will be making an appearance at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Aug. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. 

A night of live harness racing, including the Kane Memorial will begin at 6 p.m.

Admission and Parking are free for anyone who would like to come see one of these majestic horses as it is braided, brushed, and paraded right on the track.

A queue line will be available for those wishing to get a free picture with the Clydesdale. Anyone wishing to “skip” the line may purchase a fast pass ticket for $25 which will be donated to Folds of Honor, an organization dedicated to providing life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military. Additional donations to Folds of Honor by any attendees are appreciated. 

Tickets to skip the line will be available on Saturday, August 26 at the Lucky Treasures gift shop. Up to 10 people can get a picture with the Clydesdale at a time. The purchase of a skip-the-line pass will allow the purchaser to receive one $25 free play at the Player’s Club booth.

Beginning at 6 p.m., a night of New York Sire Stakes races will begin including the Kane Memorial Race, with a purse of $75,000. Free T-shirts will be given out that night. Details will be posted on Batavia Downs’ website and Facebook as the event draws closer.

“We are honored to have one of the Clydesdales on site,” said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO for Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. “These horses are a sight to behold and we encourage everyone to come down to see them. We look forward to help raise money for Folds of Honor during this great event. We hope everyone stays for the Sire Stakes and Kane Memorial Races to help support live racing in the Western New York Community as well.”

A select group of six 2-year-old New York Sire Stake colts and gelding trotters were on hand at Batavia Downs on opening day Monday (July 26) in a single division vying for a $106,300 purse, and when the dust had settled, Bargain (Chapter Seven-Batoutahill) came away with the biggest check.

Titan Your Chip (Mark Macdonald) got the jump off the gate to grab the early lead. However, Bargain (James McDonald) also left and was motoring up the rim to the quarter and overtook the front just past that station. With horses in single file, Bargain trotted to the half in 1:00 when Chaplind (Trond Smedshammer) made a first-over move from third and was on the attack. 

Chaplind drew close to Bargain at three-quarters and was almost even at the top of the stretch, and that’s where his bid failed. But the passing lane opened for the pocket-sitting Titan Your Chip, and he came barreling down the lane towards the leader. Titan Your Chip was gaining ground all the way to the line, but Bargain stayed in control under minimal urging and trotted to victory in 1:59.3.

It was the third win in four lifetime starts for Bargain ($2.80), owned by Christinatakter&Anderberg, Nancy Takter and Jaf Racing, Joe Sbrocco and R A W Equine. Nancy Takter trains the winner, who was bred by Steve Stewart and Michael Andrew.    

There were also three $20,000 Excelsior series races on the card, and all three were won in gate-to-wire fashion. 

Woweress (Crazy Wow-Chaperess) scored a 7-¾ length victory in 1:58.2 to claim his first-lifetime win for driver Frank Affrunti. Woweress ($7.20) is trained by Geroge Ducharme for owner/breeder Purple Haze Stable. 

Then Tobern (Crazy Wow-Bertaux) simply jogged by an 18-length margin to match his lifetime mark in his fourth win of the year for driver/trainer/owner John Stark Jr. Tobern ($2.40), who remains unbeaten lifetime, was bred by Bernard White and Kristie Leigh Farm.

Finally, Voss Blue Chip (E L Titan-Angelita Hanover) led every step of the way en route to a three-quarter length win in 2:02, which was his initial career victory. Jim Morrill Jr. drove Voss Blue Chip ($4.60) for trainer Jared Bako, who co-owns the gelding with Lady I Racing and Blue Chip Bloodstock, who also bred the winner.  

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (July 29) at 6 p.m. 

Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab, and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

Photo by Nick Serrata for The Batavian.

A rain-shorted game the Batavia Muckdogs thought they still had a chance to win cost the team possession of first place in the Western Division of the PGCBL.

The Muckdogs, at 25-25, trail the Elmira Pioneers, 26-15, by mere percentage points with three games left in the season.

Wednesday's game against Niagara Power ended in the fifth inning, with both teams expecting the game to continue at a later time but league officials ruled the game over, giving Power (21-17) a 3-2 win.

Michael Pedraza, who pitched all 4 1/3 innings of the game and gave up three runs and eight hits while striking out seven, took the loss.

Offensively for the Muckdogs:

• Chad Falcon went 1-2
• Levis Aguila Jr. went 1-2
• Matt DeStefano went 1-2
• Caleb Rodriguez went 1-2 with 1 Run

The Muckdogs, who have clinched a playoff spot, have three games left in the regular season. 

All three games are against the Newark Pilots, who are 12 games out of first and 12-26 on the season.  All three games will be played at Dwyer Stadium, with two today (Thursday) and one on Saturday. The first game tonight is at 5 p.m. and the second is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Thursday, July 27th – HP HOOD DAY

• 10 AM – Exhibition Halls & Buildings Open
• 4 PM – 9 PM—MIDWAY OPEN
• 6:30 PM – 4-H Market Animal Auction Sale Begins (Main Show Ring)
• 7 PM – 10PM The Eaglez Tribute Band
• 10 PM – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Close

Daily at the Fair:

• Air Sculpture (Balloon Display Build All Day Every Day and Balloon Demonstrations 12pm & 4:45pm) (All Day Every Day)
• Pig Racing – Show Schedule (SAT 4pm, 6pm & 8pm; SUN 4pm, 6pm & 8pm; MON 4pm, 6pm & 8pm; TUES 4pm, 6pm & 8pm; WED 2pm, 4pm, 6pm & 8pm; THURS 4pm, 6pm & 8pm; FRI 2pm, 4pm, 6pm & 8pm; SAT 2pm, 4pm, 6pm & 8pm)
• Niagara Down Under (All Day Every Day)
• Wings on Wheels (All Day Every Day)
• Pony Rides (All Day Every Day)
• Chain Saw Carver (All Day Every Day)
• Fame Racing – Radio Controlled Car Racing (SAT 3pm, 5pm & 7pm; SUN 3pm, 5pm & 7pm; MON 3pm, 5pm & 7pm; TUES 3pm, 5pm & 7pm; WED 1pm, 3pm, 5pm & 7pm; THURS 3pm, 5pm & 7pm; FRI 1pm, 3pm, 5pm & 7pm; SAT 1pm, 3pm, 5pm & 7pm)
• CLICK HERE FOR 4-H Daily Schedule  

Events & times on the schedule and this website are subject to change. Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with changes. Click here to see each day's schedule.

Press Release:

The 37th Annual Western New York Antique Truck Show is August 5 and 6 at the Alexander Steam Show Grounds, 10294 Gillate Road, Alexander.  The grounds are open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days. 

The show features over 150 trucks, tractors, construction equipment, and a flea market. Free Admission and Parking. Saturday events include an antique tractor pull at 10 a.m. and a slow truck race at 2 p.m.  There will be a truck parade Sunday at 1 p.m. 

Kids get a chance to win a wooden truck every hour. Proud sponsor of Camp Good Days.

Press Release:

The St. Jerome Guild, Inc., selects the recipients of the annual St. Jerome Guild Health Career Professional Scholarship 2023.

Two UMMC/Rochester Regional Healthcare providers are this year’s recipients. This award is offered annually to outstanding employees who are continuing their education to support healthcare in our local community through UMMC/Rochester Regional Health.

Nicole Hopkins, RN, specializing in patient pain management is striving for a degree in Family Care Nurse Practitioner and currently attending Roberts Wesleyan. Jennifer Kula, is a patient care technician and is currently enrolled in the second year RN program at Genesee Community College.

Additional awards of $100 each were given to Mary Caprio and Vanessa Eason who are both pursuing degrees to enhance their careers at UMMC.

If you have any questions, please call me at the cell below or contact me at maredickinson@gmail.com.

 Submitted Photos

Genesee County has been granted a change of venue in a lawsuit filed by New York City in the Supreme Court of New York County.

In a decision filed Tuesday, “the Court finds that NYC has failed to establish any compelling circumstances as to warrant that venue remain in New York County” in violation of the applicable statutes that mandate the judicial proceeding or action against a county to be in the said county or in the “judicial district where the respondent made the determination complained of.”

Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that the petition is dismissed as against some of the counties involved. However, a motion for a change of venue and to sever has been granted for other counties, including Genesee and County Manager Matt Landers. 

"The ruling was on a change of venue, in which we were successful in moving the venue to Genesee County," Landers said Wednesday.

In early June, New York City filed a lawsuit against some 30 upstate municipalities, including Genesee County, seeking to invalidate their executive orders barring undocumented immigrants from entering their locales.

The lawsuit claimed that those emergency orders obstructed New York City’s efforts to relocate migrants in “a manner that is explicitly permitted by law and required by a statewide emergency.”

While this doesn’t dismiss the lawsuit, it will bring the proceedings closer to home. 

If all goes to plan, there could be a brand new Burger King restaurant with drive-through service, ample landscaping, and a corner lot set-up with an adjacent traffic light in place by the spring of 2024.

That is, of course, if real estate manager John FitzGerald and his site engineers meet the qualifications of the city’s Planning & Development Committee, which so far have included a request to reduce a 17-foot bypass lane, bump up the landscaping, and consider a traffic study.

It’s worth the short move from 230 West Main St., Batavia and special use permit to the corner of South Lyon and West Main Street, FitzGerald said. 

“I’d always love an approval the first time, but, you know, the board brought up some legitimate items to discuss. And we'll review those with (site engineer Patrick Mahoney) Pat, and go through those. But I think that everything I heard pretty much made sense,” FitzGerald said after Tuesday’s planning committee meeting. “As far as I know, narrowing this 17-foot lane, we can take that down a little bit, you know, the right in right out (entrance/exit), I think makes sense. Some of the other ones were kind of spitballing. And they're very, very difficult to enact.

“As far as the traffic study … we’re basically moving across the street to a safer, easier, more accessible property. So I don't know, if the state requires it, we will do it.”

FitzGerald, who manages about 350 Burger Kings for Carrols Corp., has been leasing the current site, which will be up soon. His reasons for moving are more about the new location than the one he has been in for at least a few decades.

“There’s nothing wrong with the old one, this is just a better location,” he said. “Again, it's at the traffic light. So it's safer for getting people in and out. It gives you two access points: one on South Lyons and one on Main Street, versus the one we currently have, like a double lead in and out on one side of the store, and then it's got the drive-through exit on the other side. So there's potentially conflicting movements.”

Those conflicting movements happen when motorists attempt to make either a left or right turn out of the current location each simultaneously, he said. He likes having a traffic light at the corner of the new location and stressed the safety factor of the new design. He’s not aware of his current property playing host to accidents, he said, but wants to move on. 

The biggest reason is having a traffic light to help with the flow of traffic versus being in mid-block, he said. 

“So it’s an easier movement versus the existing store. Not that this was bad, but it’s both 90-degree stalls. So there’s people kind of coming and going in different directions,” FitzGerald said. “This forces everybody to go the same direction in and around the property. And, again, two access points versus one.”

His design team, Mahoney and Peter Sorgi, did all the talking during the meeting, at some points rather pointedly questioning committee member Ed Flynn’s critiques. Flynn latched onto the 17-foot lane as a major sticking point throughout the site plan review.

“Why do you have a 17-foot escape lane?” Flynn said. Sorgi focused on the landscaping, stating that it was “more than was required” by code and the bypass lane was part of a safety measure. 

“Right now, I may be the only one talking about the 17-foot excessive lane over here, but I want more landscaping along Lyon Street. Seems like they start out with a lot to offer there. And then, of course, you make a descending (landscaping design) for some reason. The pavement lane is 17 feet, that seems like it can be reduced dramatically.”

Mahoney said that safety to the community is better served by a wider lane, and Sorgi homed in on the safety factor versus aesthetics. Flynn emphasized that his comments weren’t necessarily a consensus of the group. 

“That’s why we have more than one board member,” City Code Enforcement Officer Doug Randall said, to which Sorgi quickly replied, “thank you.”

“The design is where your talent comes in, we’re just here to express concerns of the public,” Randall said.  

Mahoney described the ideal “speckled shade” landscaping of crab apple and locust trees, greenery that could survive Western New York’s climate and Main Street’s winter road saltings. 

They discussed the parking lot size — committee member Derek Geib asked if four spaces similar to McDonald’s would suffice — the drive-through configuration, trash removal from the dumpster, and how things have changed in the way customers operate.

Mahoney said that no, four spaces would not work. As for the drive-through, there are two order points. There’s a double wide for ordering, and it filters into a single lane for the pickup at the store. 

“And then, if you look at the building, to the left of that will be the mobile order stalls. And as we were talking about that, that’s the wave of the future, people don’t want to even really park their car,” FitzGerald said after the meeting. “They just want to pull up and have somebody run out. 

"This is the way the industry is going, that's everywhere, surburban, rural, urban. People today, it's either drive-through or over their phone," he said. "We're trying to make it safer for people on the property. It's just the wave of the future." 

FitzGerald is to return with an updated site plan in September or October. His first meeting was in June, which introduced the project and plan to demolish two major current business buildings.

Tuesday at the Genesee County Fair was another full day with the annual parade, the first day of the karaoke contest, and, of course, lots of activity in the Midway.

To view or purchase prints, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

The New York Sire Stakes will be on hand at Batavia Downs for opening night of the 2023 summer/fall season on Wednesday (July 26) when seven 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings line up for a big payday of $106,300. With only a handful of starts among this relatively even group, it could be anyone’s race to win as these fast-developing freshmen can throw a big mile at any time from week to week.

The oddsmaker’s choice is the two-for-one entry of Bargain (Chapter Seven-Batoutahill) and Keep Asking (Chapter Seven-Sensibility).

Bargain has two wins and a second in three starts this year while showing versatility over three different-size tracks. One of those wins was a victory in the $77,300 NYSS at Yonkers in his first career outing in 1:59.1. The following week, he lowered his lifetime mark of 1:56.4 at the Meadowlands, closing in: 27.3 in the $20,000 event. His current earnings of $62,525 have him listed as the sixth richest 2-year-old male trotter in North America, and he is poised to add to that total in this race. Bargain likes the front end and, leaving from post four, should definitely be in charge of this group from the start.

James McDonald will steer Bargain for trainer Nancy Takter.

Keep Asking has yet to win in two starts but recovered nicely after an early break in his first start to finish second in the NYSS at Yonkers and then bounced back with a fourth place, 1:56 clocking at Tioga Downs where he was parked for the better part of the mile. Post-seven may be a tough task.

Jim Morrill Jr. will be in the bike behind Keep Asking for trainer George Ducharme.

A big threat will be looming from Situationship (Chapter Seven-Meegan Hall), who made a big three-wide move at three-quarters last week in the NYSS at Tioga, where he finished second in 1:55.1 off a: 28.4 final quarter. Situationship has displayed extreme closing speed in two 2-year-old non-betting events this year at Meadowlands and will be stalking the leader in the last stages of this race.

Trainer Ake Svanstedt will also be driving Situationship.

There are also three $20,000 Excelsior divisions in races two, four, and six.

Post time for the first race is 6 p.m. The races can be viewed free and live at the Batavia Downs Facebook page and free full past performance programs can always be downloaded for every live race card from the Batavia Downs website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the live racing tab.