Sports

Press release:

It’s a tribute to the men and women who flirted with harness racing immortality. And the Harness Racing Hall of Fame exhibit will be on display this weekend at Batavia Downs Casino.

It’s called the Drive to Win exhibit and it features drivers and trainers who through circumstance or fate, did not rise to stardom. Their stories are poignant and down to earth and highlight that through adversity, the one shining element that connects them all is their love of and commitment to the great sport of harness racing.

Huge portraits, many provided by The United States Trotting Association and the sport’s weekly magazine Horseman And Fair World, introduce the subjects of the exhibit who were all nominated by racing fans. Each includes the complete story of the individual and what made them noteworthy in the sport.

There are 27 drivers and trainers featured in the exhibit including former Western New York regulars Jim Rankin, Robbie Rankin, George Forshey, and Angus Allen. You will also be able to see the stories of Richard Baker, Hugh Bell, Edwin Bither, Harry Burright, Vernon Crank, Harold R. Dancer, Norman Dauplaise, Alfred “Bucky” Day, Bea Farber, Hilda Heydt, Maxie Lee, Joe Lighthill, Howard Parker, Ervin Samples, Forrest Short, Phyllis Smith Page, Harold Snodgrass, Colby Turner, Sacher Werner, John “Tic” Wilcutts, Lew Williams, and Mildred Williams. Their stories provide an illuminating glimpse into this Great American Pastime.

The exhibit was stationary at the Hall of Fame of the Trotter in Goshen, NY until 2009 when it became a traveling ambassador of the sport. Its presentation here this week was made possible through support from Hanover Shoe Farms and is co-sponsored by Batavia Downs Casino and the Upstate NY Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association. It will be on display in The Paddock Room from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from Noon to 4:00 p.m. Labor Day Monday. Evening post times are 6:40 with a 1:15 matinee post on Labor Day.

We will also have many hand outs from the museum including the colorful and informative Hall of Fame Journal from this past July 4th inductions at Goshen, NY.

Many thanks to Tim Bojarski, President-Upstate New York Chapter of USHWA for making this exhibit possible.

Press Release:

Batavia, NY --- It was another prime summer evening for harness racing in Western New York as the 64th season of live racing continued at America’s oldest lighted harness track. The feature race, the tenth race on the card, was a $9,000 Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares with an optional claiming price of $17,500.

The feature went to the Meadows invader Snapper, with Jack Flanigen at the lines, pacing to the mile in a swift 1:56.3. In for the place was Pembroke Primo with John Cummings, Jr. Sun Belle Perfect and Ronny Beback showed up to round out the $55.00 trifecta.

Snapper and Flanigen moved from the rail to overtake the early lead from Cummings and Pembroke Primo just before the quarter pole. The talented mare took the front and cruised comfortably until just before the three-quarter pole when Tom Agosti and Jennifers Major showed a boost of speed to challenge Snapper just rounding the final turn. The efforts of the field did not overcome Snapper and Flanigen, as they drew away to win by 1-1/2 lengths. The fractions for Snapper were :28, :58.1 and 1:28.1.

Snapper is a 7-year-old mare by Keystone Luther. She’s owned by Anthony Cummings and Carl Cummings trains her. The winning $2 mutuel price was $3.20. Snapper was claimed out of the race for $21,000 by Howard Ouriel.

Live racing will continue this Friday and Saturday evening. Saturday features the annual tradition of Old Fashioned Night at Batavia Downs Casino. We will roll back the price of Sahlen’s hot dogs and soda to just 50 cents from 5 p.m. to the last race in the Paddock Room.

Press Release:

Batavia, NY --- Racing fans are reminded that Batavia Downs Casino will be conducting a special 12-race matinee program, on Sunday August 29. First race post time is 1:15pm.

Sunday is the first of three matinees scheduled this season, the others being Labor Day and Columbus Day.

"Batavia Downs Live," the 3 1/2 hour Time Warner cable broadcast of the Downs races will not be aired tomorrow.

"We simply couldn't get the airtime," Michael Kane, Vice President of Live Racing said. "With all the activities scheduled it's going to be a great day to be at the racetrack anyway."

Among the Family Fun activities scheduled for the kids are appearances from Pringles the Crown and Mr. Scribbles along with free pony rides. These events take place from two until four.

Food specials, beginning at noon, include $1.00 Sahlen Hots, Sodas, Popcorn and Snow Cones. A special clubhouse buffet will be served for just $7.95.

And finally after the last harness race of the afternoon its the annual wiener dog races, sponsored by Petco.

A total of 56 dachshunds will compete in 7 heats with the winner from each heat returning for a championship final. The owners of the top three finishers in the finals receive Casino free play. For more information visit www.bataviadownscasino.

Press release:

BATAVIA, NY – In the $9,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace on Wednesday at Batavia Downs, it was the Tioga Downs invader, Biggest Big Bertha, who sizzled the mile in 1:55.1 and took home the $4,500 top prize. The final time was just three ticks off the older mares track record.

Trained and driven by Rick Plano, Biggest Big Bertha made every pole a winning one but had to withstand a serious bid by 4/5 favorite Nora Lee and Kevin Cummings in deep stretch en route to a neck win. Artistry In Rhythm and Ken Holliday were up for third.

Biggest Big Bertha is a 9-year-old mare by Little Steven. She is owned by Marilee Keene. The fractions for the event were :29, :58.1 and 1:26.3.

Be sure to join us this weekend for exciting Live Racing promotions this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Batavia Downs Casino. Post time for Friday and Saturday is 6:40 PM. Friday evening is our annual Italian-American Night. On Saturday evening three lucky patrons will have a chance to win up to $1,000 as they enter the Cash Cube! Registration begins at 5 PM at Player’s Club.

Sunday marks the first matinee of the 64th Live Racing Season, with a post time of 1:15 PM. The famed Weiner Dog Races will follow Sunday’s racing action. The 56 dashing dachshunds will compete in 7 heats and take to the track shortly after the last harness race at approximately 4:20 PM.

Press Release:

(Batavia NY) --- The always popular Wiener Dog Races will be featured as part of the Family Fun Day matinee at Batavia Downs Casino this Sunday August 29. First post time is 1:15 p.m.

There will be seven heats at the end of the 12-race harness card (about 4:20 p.m.) with a maximum of eight dogs each, followed by a “championship heat” between the winners of the seven qualifying events. The 100-yard event is staged on the track in front of the home stretch.

“The wiener dog races are very entertaining,” said Michael D Kane, Vice President of Operations and Live Racing. “We encourage the entire family to come out for this event on Sunday. It’s the perfect way to wrap up our family fun day of entertainment,” he added.

Mr Scribbles and Pringles the Clown will entertain the children from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in The Paddock Room. There will also be pony rides, $1 snow cones, Sahlen hot dogs and soda. A special clubhouse buffet will be featured for $7.95.

This year’s wiener dog race is sponsored by Petco on Veterans Memorial Drive in Batavia.

The weekend begins with Italian-American Night Friday evening when Oakfield Attorney Raymond Cianfrini is honored by The Downs as its Italian-American-of-the-Year. A special clubhouse buffet with an Italian flavor will be featured along with live music by the Formula Band.

Saturday night, three race fans will be drawn at random to enter the Casino’s Cash Cube and the chance to grab up to $1000 in cash. Sign-up begins at 5:00 at Player’s Club.

Batavia Downs Casino is owned and operated by Western Regional Off-Track Betting, a public benefit corporation.

The Batavia Muckdogs will have two back-to-back double-headers on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 25 and 26 due to wet field conditions on Tuesday evening. Game time is 6:05 p.m. both days with gates opening at 5 p.m.

Any ticket purchased for Tuesday's game can be exchanged for two tickets to any future Muckdogs regular season game.
 
Wednesday is Homer’s Birthday Bash. In celebration, we will be giving out free ice cream bars to the first 250 fans courtesy of Hershey’s Ice Cream.

It’s also Drug Free Communities Family Four Pack where fans can get four general admission tickets, four hot dogs, four 12 oz. sodas and a 2010 Program for ONLY $30. Plus you’ll receive a FREE prize pack courtesy of Drug Free Communities.
 
Thursday offers the Knot Hole Game presented by Turnbull Heating and Air.
 
For tickets, call the Muckdogs Box Office at 343-5454, ext. 1005.

Press Release:

Batavia, NY --- Congratulations to Dan Dickens of Batavia, the winner of the August 21, 2010 Batavia Downs Casino $1,000 Handicapping Contest! Dan bested 353 other contestants with a top score of 46 points to claim the $500 top prize.

A three-way tie for second place between Rick Case, Gary Macomber and Luann Furano, each 45 points, proved to be unbreakable as they selected the same winners during the nine race contest. Each will receive $150 for their fine efforts.

Three contestants finished with 44 points but it was John Hutchinson, with a tiebreaker total of $33.50 that was able to secure the fifth spot and take home $50.

All prize money can be picked up beginning on Wednesday, August 25, at 5:00 p.m. at Players Club. The next free handicapping contest of the season takes place, September 18. Many thanks to all that participated and Good Luck!

Press Release:

Batavia, NY --- There have been many popular racehorses that have graced the Downs throughout the years, horses like Baron Too and Patrick Will quickly come to mind, but no sentence can be compete when referring to Batavia Downs racing without including the iron horse, Michael Scores.

Like he has done so many times throughout his 207 race career, Michael Scores was victorious in Saturday nights Downs featured Open pace.

With a purse of $8,500 and a field of six behind the starting gate for the 7th race, Michael Scores exploded down the lane to win by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:55 to notch his 6th win of the season and his 76th lifetime. His career earnings are over $593,000.

Michael, with Tom Agosti at the controls, was perfectly spotted following second-over cover, but there were a few anxious moments when Arm and a Leg with Kevin Cummings tipped three-wide putting Michael Scores in a blindswitch heading to three-quarters.

Around the final turn, the underrated Agosti, was able to maneuver Michael out of their jackpot and angle him out 4-deep at the top of the lane. Once clear Michael kicked it into another gear and drew off as a much the best winner.

Cry for Cash with Ken Holliday, 5-wide at the top of the stretch, stormed down the center to narrowly get second over the front running Compass Connection and Ron Beback Jr.

Jim Compton trains and co-owns Michael Scores along with wife Sandra.

The Pick-6 was not hit on Saturday night which means the carryover pool when racing resumes on Monday night, the final Monday night of the 2010 season is over $4,400. Post time is 6:40 p.m.

Here's a news release from the Muckdogs.

The 2010 New York-Penn League All-Star roster included five players from Batavia. They were catcher Audry Perez, infielder Joey Bergman, outfielder Nicholas Longmire and pitchers Justin Edwards and Chase Reid. They played in the All-Star game Tuesday at Richmond County Ballpark in Staten Island.

Perez was an undrafted free agent signing in 2006 and has started 30 games at catcher for the Muckdogs this season. He is currently batting .333 with 44 RBI’s, which is good for 7th best in the league.

Perez has also been solid behind the plate this year and has helped guide the pitching staff to a team ERA of 3.77.

Bergman, a 33rd round pick in the 2010 draft, has been among the league leaders in hitting all season. Bergman currently ranks tenth in the league in hitting, with a .313 batting average, to go along with 8 doubles and 17 RBI’s.

Bergman primarily plays infield for the Muckdogs but was selected as the designated hitter for this year’s All-Star team.

The Cardinals selected Longmire in the 5th round of the 2010 draft out of Pacific University. As the team’s everyday centerfielder, Longmire has enjoyed a stellar rookie season. He is currently batting .286 and his 39 RBI’s is second most in the league. He also ranks in the top ten in both home runs (8) and slugging percentage (.503).

Justin Edwards is in his second year of professional baseball and was a 28th round pick in the 2009 draft. The left-hander is 3-2 with an ERA of 2.57, which puts him in the top 10 of starting pitchers this year. He has also recorded 42 strikeouts in his 49 innings of work.

St. Louis drafted Reid out of Vanderbilt University in the 41st round of the 2010 draft. Pitching primarily as a set up man, Reid is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA. He has helped opposing batters to a .125 average, and has recorded 30 strikeouts in just 18 innings of work.

Batavia holds the third place spot in the Pinckney Division with a record of 28-21. This marks the second time in three years that the Muckdogs have sent five players to the All-Star game. The Muckdogs sent five players to the 2008 All-Star game and sent three in 2009.

The ninth annual Batavia Blue Devil Athletic Hall of Fame dinner is set for Saturday, Sept. 25th at Terry Hills Restaurant & Banquet Facility. This year's inductees include a contingent of former standouts reading like a who's who from the annals of Blue Devil sports.

The inductees include:

Don Cerefin                    1947

Sharon Leising               1964

Barry Sheldon                1967

James Briggs                 1969

James Dzierzanowski    1969

Bruce Beswick               1970

Ernest Found Jr.            1970

Matthew Doward            1986

Teal Fowler                     1989  

Social hour for the event will begin at 5 p.m. followed by a dinner at 6. The cost of tickets is $30 and are available at the athletic director's office at Batavia High School. For more information please call 585-343-2480, ext. 2003.

Here's a news release frome the Muckdogs.

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA – The New York-Penn League, a Class-A Short Season league established in 1939, is celebrating its 72nd consecutive season with the naming of their All-Time Team. The players, selected by an online fan ballot, represent more than 70 years of baseball greats.

Sponsored by the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), voting got under way April 20 and concluded Aug. 1, with fans and experts from all 14 current NYPL clubs, as well as baseball fans around the world.

Most noteworthy is the inclusion of Major League Baseball’s all-time hits leader, Pete Rose, a member of the 1960 Geneva Redlegs, as the team’s second baseman. This is one of the first All-Time teams Rose has been named to after he was barred from entering the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

While Rose is not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the team does feature several alumni now featured in Cooperstown including Robin Yount, a member of the 1973 Newark Co-Pilots, Jim Rice, from the 1971 Williamsport Red Sox, and Wade Boggs, a member of the 1976 Elmira Pioneers, at third base.

“It’s truly an honor and something I will cherish,” said Boggs of the selection. “It was my first year in professional baseball, straight out of high school, and I celebrated my 18th birthday in Elmira, New York. The entire year was a remarkable experience…a super honor.”

Representing the current stars are perennial All-Stars teammates with the New York Yankees, who started their careers together in 1991 with the Oneonta Yankees: Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte. They are joined by a pair of shutdown closers: 2003 Lowell Spinners pitcher Jonathan Papelbon and Atlanta Braves closer and 1993 Auburn Astros pitcher Billy Wagner.

“It’s a huge honor and a special honor to be named to the NYPL All-Time team, especially being named along with so many National Baseball Hall of Fame players,” said Papelbon. “[The NYPL] will always be special to me as it was my very first stop in professional baseball. I loved playing in Lowell…as it gave me a real taste of what Red Sox Nation was like. This is definitely an honor I will cherish.”

The New York-Penn League represents the first professional stop in the careers of many players. With teams in Vermont, Connecticut, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland and Pennsylvania, the NYPL is the oldest continually-operated Class-A league in Minor League Baseball. The All-Time Team was unveiled prior to the sixth annual New York-Penn League All-Star Game on Tuesday.

“CSEA is proud to support the New York-Penn League’s All-Time team in the same year that we mark our centennial anniversary,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue. “Whether they’re all-time greats or fan favorites, these are players whose accomplishments stand the test of time.”

A complete listing of the team, along with their New York-Penn League and Major League teams, can be found by visiting CSEA at www.csealocal1000.org. For more information on the NYPL, visit www.newyork-pennleague.com.