Sports

Press Release:

(Batavia NY) --- Most race cards for the remainder of the 2010 Batavia Downs Casino harness meet will now be available to television viewers in both the Rochester and Buffalo regions, it was announced today by Michael D Kane, Vice President, Operations and Live Racing.

In the Rochester area, races will continue to be featured on Channel 98 on Time-Warner’s basic digital package. The coverage area includes all or parts of Genesee, Orleans, Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Yates and Steuben Counties.

In the Buffalo area, racing will be carried on Channel 114 on Time-Warner (Channel 111 in Olean), WGRZ Digital Channel 2-2 and Verizon Fios Channel 460. The coverage area includes all or parts of Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties.

Nightly race programming will begin at 6:30 p.m. and complete at about 10:00 p.m., according to Kane. Racing analyst Todd Haight returns for his 8th year and track announcer Joe Zambito for his 6th as co-hosts of the simulcast show.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Batavia Downs to showcase its live racing product to our two largest markets. It’s a nice attraction for new customers and provides our long-time racing fans with the nightly races in the comfort of their homes,” Kane said.

Kane reminds harness fans that OTB provides telephone betting through its Dial-A-Bet service. Patrons may phone 1-800-724-4000 to establish an account.

Batavia Downs Casino is owned and operated by Western Regional Off-Track Betting, a public benefit corporation. In addition to being America’s Oldest Lighted Harness Track, the facility at 8315 Park Road is home to over 600 of the most popular slots and Grandstands Bar & Grille.

 Alexander knocked off 2 time defending league champion Holley Wednesday evening 3-1 in the first game on their new field.  It was Alexander's first win over Holley in over 2 years.

Alexander opened the scoring in the 18th minute as Senior Forward Megan Schmieder finished off a pass from Sophomore midfielder Abby Shilvock to make the score 1-0.  Holley tied it in the 34th minute on a corner kick.  Alexander nearly went back on top as Schmieder had a breakaway but failed to get a shot off before the Holley keeper slid to knock the ball off her feet.

In the 2nd half Alexander had the majority of the possession but could not convert any of their chances.  Senior Midfielder Tessa Bigelow took a pass from Senior Midfielder Claire Hartl but rang her shot off the crossbar to keep the score tied at 1.  In the 75th minute of the game Junior Forward Julia Pettys knocked in a rebound of her own shot to put Alexander back on top (her 5th goal of the season).  In the 78th minute Shilvock ripped a 30 yard shot into the top corner to put the game out of reach.

Alexander's Senior Keeper Hannah Wilson picked up her 2nd win of the season with 8 stops in goal.

Alexander's record is now 2-0-1 overall and 1-0 in the league.  Holley drops to 0-1.

Alexander's next game is Friday on the road @ Attica at 4:30pm.  Attica is 2-0 coming into the game.

 The Batavia Ramparts started their season off on a high note Wednesday night
 at the Falleti Ice Arena topping the Tri-County Eagles (Brockport) by a score
 of 2-1. Zack Blew started off the scoring for the Ramparts in the first
 period he was assisted by Evan Eckerson. The second (and winning)goal for the
 Ramparts was scored by Cody Bedard and assisted by Eckerson and Blew. Jimmy
 Johnson was awesome in goal for the Ramparts stopping 25 of 26 shots against
 him. It was a great beginning to what looks to be a promising season for the
 home town 16U Ramparts team. The teams next game is at Canandaigua on Friday  at 6pm.
 

The Batavia Girls Tennis Team opened the season with a hard fought loss to Churchville-Chili 3-4.  Victorious for Batavia at 2nd singles was Michelle Richenberg 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 3rd singles Lisa Ferkinghoff, 6-3, 6-2, and at 4th singles Nicole Guilds 6-2, 6-0.  The next match is their home opener on Friday at 4:30 vs. Greece Arcadia/Olympia.

Alexander picked up their first win of the season and remained unbeaten at 1-0-1 in the consolation game of the Keshequa Tournament.  Junior Forward Julia Pettys found the net before the halfway mark of the 1st half off an assist from Senior Midfielder Tessa Bigelow.  Portville would tie the score at the halfway mark of the 1st half off a corner kick.

Alexander went back on top moments later as Pettys found the net again (her 4th of the season) off an assist from Senior Forward Megan Schmieder (her 2nd assist of the season).  Senior Goal Keeper Hannah Wilson picked up the win in net.

Pettys was named to the all-tournament team after the game.

Alexander opens up Genesee Region play Wednesday the 8th of September at 4:30 at home against Holley.  It will be the first game on Alexander's new varsity field.

Press release:

Batavia, NY --- The unbeaten freshman filly pacing sensation See You At Peelers puts her eight-race winning streak on the line when she takes on seven other rivals in a $44,820 New York Sires stakes event on Wednesday night (Sept. 8) at Batavia Downs Casino. More than $144,000 in New York Sire Stakes purses will be offered.

Once again trainer Jimmy Takter will hand the lines over to Jim Morrill, Jr., who had six winners at the Downs this past Saturday night. The talented bay daughter of Bettor's Delight-West Side Glory is owned by the partnership of Christina Takter and John and Jim Fielding.

With earnings in excess of $119,000 and a 1:51.3 lifetime mark (a Vernon Downs track record), See You at Peelers will be gunning for Paula’s Best's current 1:55 Downs record, set in 2006.

Carded as race 11, See You At Peelers has been installed as the 3-5 morning line favorite by Racing Secretary Joe Zambito. She’ll start from post position three.

The well named My Girl’s A Star, for former Downs regular Ray Schnittker, looks like a formidable foe in the first $44,020 NYSS race of the evening, carded as race two. She’ll start from the rail.

In eight starts this season the Art Major-Ifuwantitcumngetit filly has six winner's circle visits to her credit with earnings of more than $98,000 for owner Mathias Meinzinger. She also took her mark at Vernon by winning in 1:52.2.

First race post time is 6:40 p.m. Racing programs can be downloaded free of charge at www.bataviadownscasino.com. Simply click on live racing and then race info. Reservations to dine in the clubhouse can be made at 585-343-3750.

Press release:

Batavia, NY --- It was Hall of Fame night on Saturday night (Sept.4) at Batavia Downs Casino with three Batavia legends being inducted, while on the racetrack one horse, Joey The Czar, did his best to be nominated.

In the fifth race of the evening, a $49,392 New York Sire Stake event for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers, Joey The Czar established a new Downs record for 3-year-olds, when he paced in 1:52.1, just a fifth of a second off the all-age record currently held by Kenneth J. A truly spectacular performance considering conditions were far less than perfect, temperatures at post time were well below normal.

The question was would anybody take a shot and leave against Joey The Czar, who started from the rail, with the red-hot Jim Morrill, Jr. in the sulky.

It was quickly answered when the Canadian invader, Malicious, with hall of fame inductee Jeff Gregory in the bike, fired out and made the top in a sizzling :26.3.

Coming by the grandstand the first time Morrill, Jr. decided he had enough of the pocket trip and was back out to take command at the half in :55.3. Able to the rate the third quarter in :28:2 Joey The Czar wasn’t home free yet as Malicious moved to the outside as they turned for home.

Down the lane under very mild Morrill urging Joey The Czar paced a :28.1 final stanza to etch his name into the Downs record books. Malicious was a very good second while it was 8-lenghts back to the third place finisher Speculative Edge (Fern Paquet Jr.)

Joey The Czar, (Art Major-Razmataz Hanover) notched his ninth win of the season and raised his 2010 bankroll to over $205,000 for owner Kevin Gee.

“I didn’t think we’d have to go that fast,” Morrill said in the winners circle. “But once we got down there in 26 and a piece I figured we’d go fast. This is a really nice horse; Bruce (trainer Bruce Saunders) has done a great job with him.”

Saturday night's other New York Sire Stakes were won by:

He’s Gorgeous (by Art Major - So Ravishing); owned Kenneth Jacobs; trained by trainer Linda Toscano; driven by Jim Morrill, Jr. to his sixth win of the season in 1:55.4.

Jerry’s Brown Gold (by Art Major - Ideal Dex); owned by Fred Monteleone Stbl LLC; trained by Ed Hart; driven by Jack Flanigen to his seventh win of 2010, in 1:54.2, for which he paid $27.00 to win.

After the 7th race the John Schroeder, Clint Galbraith and Jeff Gregory were inducted into the Downs Hall of Fame with a special winners circle ceremony.

Jim Morrill, Jr. was the hot driver of the evening, guiding home six winners on the 12-race program.

Batavia Downs will hold a special matinee on Labor Day. First race post time is 1:15 p.m. New York Sire Stakes action continues on Wednesday night (Sept.8) when the 2-year-old filly pacers invade Western New York to compete in over $140,000 in purse money.

Press Release:

Batavia, NY --- The start of Labor Day weekend at Batavia Downs Casino featured four NY County Fair finals for 2 and 3 year-old pacers and trotters, worth $8,000 each.

The 3-year-old pacers kicked off the fair finals in race two. This one saw Emmas Lily (Artiscape-Sweet Rosa Belle) with trainer/driver Truman Gale upset favored It’s Only Roni with Jack Flanigen in 2:00. Charlesinazone was right there in third. Emmas Lily, who won for the eighth time this season, is owned by Stephanie and Brian Cassell.

The win machine, Vagra (Dream Vacation-Agra), notched his 13th win of the season when he trotted to a 4-1/2 length score in 2:03. The veteran Doug Ackley trains and drives the talented 3-year-old trotter. EJ’s Dream Kat (Jack Flanigen), who was the early leader, held on for second over Here Comes Doodles (Kevin Cummings).

Heavily favored Lofty Dreams did not disappoint in the 2-year-old trot when he went on to a much the best 8-1/2 length win in 2:05.1. Jack Flanigen put the Dream Vacation-Dusty Girl colt on the lead for owner-trainer Steve Pratt and they never had an anxious moment. The win was Lofty Dream's eighth of his freshman campaign. Iroquoindianspring with Kirk Desmond got second over Love And Peace with Mark Whitcroft.

Last, but not least, former Batavia Downs regular Dave Fisher guided Surf Cast Michelle to a head victory over Totally Determined and Leon Bailey in 2:02.3 in the 2-year-old pace. Fisher brushed the Quality Of Life-Surf Cast Paradise filly to the front at the half and that proved to be the winning move. Surf Cast Michelle is now five for seven lifetime.

Queen Creek got Pick-6 players off on the right foot, when she went gate-to-wire in the $9,000 Preferred Trot. Starting from post position two, Queen Creek assumed command when the gate opened and under strong Ron Beback, Jr. urging was able to hold off the pocket sitting Kash N Credit (Troy Boring) in 1:59.2.

Thanks to six straight winning chalks the Pick-6 was hit. Five winning ticket holders took home $268 each. The Pick-6 pool will be guaranteed at $1,000 on Saturday night.

New York Sire Stakes action continues on Saturday night when the glamour division, the 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers, race for almost $150,000 in purses. Post time is 6:40 p.m.

In the opening game of the season the Alexander girls varsity soccer team ended regulation and overtime tied 2-2 with Arkport (the defending State Class D Champions) and fell 5-4 in the Penalty Kick Shootout after 6 kickers.

Alexander opened the scoring as Junior Forward Julia Pettys finished a rebound off Senior Midfielder Claire Hartl's shot to make the score 1-0 midway through the first half.  Arkport tied the game (against the run of play) on a corner with under 10 minutes remaining in the first half to tie the game at 1.

It took only 3 minutes after halftime for Alexander to go back on top as Pettys again finished a rebound, this time from Senior Forward Megan Schmieder.  Alexander looked to be on their way to victory only to have Arkport pounce on a cross that made its way across the mouth of the goal and was slid in with 57 seconds left in the game.  

Through 20 minutes of overtime neither team could score.  Each team sent 5 kickers out to take a PK, Alexander converted 4 of 5 (Senior Midfielder Autumn Atkinson, Senior Defender Amber Finan, Senior Defender Summer Bliss, and Sophomore Midfielder Abby Shilvock all found the net) but Arkport also converted 4 of 5 with Senior Goalkeeper Hannah Wilson making one save.  Alexander missed their next kick over the net and Arkport scored their last kick (despite Wilson getting a solid hand on it) and Arkport advanced to the final against the hosts.  Alexander will play Portville in the Consolation game.

Wilson made 8 saves in net while Arkports keeper made 18 which really displayed the advantage Alexander had in shots in the game.

Alexander is 0-0-1 on the season and plays Portville Saturday at 5:45pm at Kiwanis Field in Nunda.