Batavia Downs

Ricky Palermo couldn’t have been more appreciative this morning as he accepted a $20,000 check from Henry Wojtaszek, president and chief executive officer of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., to support the Ricky Palermo Foundation for spinal injury research.

The funds represent ticket sales, food vendor and chair rental fees from the "Bruce in the USA" concert that took place on June 10 at Batavia Downs Gaming on Park Road.

Palermo credited Ryan Hasenauer and the marketing department staff at WROTB for making the concert happen and the community for getting behind it.

“We've never done anything this big before,” he said in front of a small gathering in the casino lobby. “I can’t say enough how much we appreciate it. Every time we had a question either Henry or Ryan or one of the girls would get back to me. It made life a lot easier.”

He said that the foundation has raised more than $1.7 million over the past 26 years.

“It’s kind of amazing when you think about that,” he said. “We couldn't do it without the help of everybody -- everybody in our community.”

Palermo noted that people who attended the concert have reached out to him, looking for answers in regard to getting help for a spinal injury.

Contributions to the Ricky Palermo Foundation are distributed to four entities, Palermo said. Those are United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, the bicycle program for spinal injured people at the Genesee Area Family YMCA and the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.

“A small chunk goes to Strong Memorial because they took care of me when I first got hurt, so I want to make sure to remember them,” he said.

Wojtaszek said the Downs plans to host another event next year to support the Ricky Palermo Foundation.

The foundation’s 26^th annual golf tournament is scheduled for Aug. 6 at Terry Hills Golf Course on Clinton Street Road. Palermo said it will be a “golf only” event with a take-home chicken and pork barbecue dinner.

Photo: Ricky Palermo accepts $20,000 check from Henry Wojtaszek this morning at Batavia Downs Gaming. Photo by Mike Pettinella.

Batavia Downs Gaming is on its way to another year of record earnings, the chief financial officer for Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. said this morning.

“Surcharge and earnings distributions are up 175 percent this year compared to the same point in 2021 and we’re about $500,000 away from 2021’s earnings distribution of $4.9 million – which was the best ever for the corporation,” said CFO Jacquelyne Leach, following today’s board of directors meeting at the Park Road facility.

Year-to-date earnings and surcharge for 2022 are at $4,713,508, broken down as follows: $4,340,130 in earnings and $373,378 in surcharge, Leach reported. Compared to last year at this time, the total earnings and surcharge distributions were $1,716,870.

“At this pace, this will be the highest earnings year in the corporation’s history,” Leach said.

She said that the public benefit company will be distributing $2,606,704 in second quarter earnings and June surcharge to its 17 member municipalities next week.

Genesee County will receive $53,903 from the second quarter earnings pool and $951 from the surcharge pool, bringing its year-to-date earnings and surcharge distribution to $99,251. For all of 2021, Genesee County received $36,190 in surcharge and earnings distributions.

Resolutions passed by the board during its meeting include:

• Finalization of an agreement with the Western New York Harness Horsemen’s Association to add 15 racing dates in January and February 2023 to the current schedule. WNYHHA has agreed to pay all expenses associated with conducting the additional dates – expected to be around $300,000, according to WROTB President Henry Wojtaszek. The dates will be announced after approval of the contract by the New York State Gaming Commission.

• Authorizing WROTB to pay $140,000 for the Town of Batavia, through general contractor CATCO, to install a new 12-inch sewer line during the Park Road Reconstruction Project. Previously, the Batavia Town Board voted in favor of the agreement, which calls for WROTB and Genesee Park Place Associates to share the cost of about 700 linear feet of sewer pipe.

• A contract with Audio Images Sound & Lighting of Batavia for $150,000 to set up the stage, concert lighting and associated equipment for the Rockin’ The Downs Concert Series this summer. Wojtaszek acknowledged that the contract should have been presented to the board sooner, since the concert series is halfway done, but said the amount was negotiated prior to the start of the series.

• Expenditures totaling up to $130,000 for food and beverages at three Western New York venues during events sponsored by WROTB for customers. The amounts are $75,000 at Key Bank Center in Buffalo (Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bandits, concerts); $30,000 at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, and $25,000 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park (Buffalo Bills, concerts).

• Agreements with the WNYHHA to evenly split the cost of the purchase of a new 621 G Z Bar Case Loader from Monroe Tractor and a new T450 Track Loader from Clark Equipment Co., which will be used to maintain the harness track. The first piece of equipment costs $186,412.59 and the second one costs $54,786.63.

• A change order of the contract with Suburban Electric, Inc., in the amount of $22,709.36 for electric work associated with the lighting of the parking lot adjacent to the new warehouse and cold storage facility on the ground’s south end. Wojtaszek said the total cost of the project is around $1 million and it is near completion.

• Acceptance of a purchase offer of no less than $450,000 from Laur Properties, LLC, for the OTB branch that has been for sale on Military Road in Niagara Falls.

Molly Hatchet, with decades of hits to choose from, played to a jam-packed crowd of over 6,000 on Friday evening at Batavia Downs Gaming.

In 2019 the band released a new digital single and lyric video for the track “Devil’s Canyon (live).” The track is taken from the band’s forthcoming live album “Battleground."

The Southern Rock combo was formed in 1971 and has gone through numerous lineup changes.  Lead singer John Galvin joined the band in 1984.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

The 76^th year of racing at Batavia Downs kicked off last evening with a great turnout.  A total of 14 races of which 12 betting and 2 non betting was enjoyed by a great crowd. 

Jim Mulcahy, horseman representative who grooms trainers and drivers has been at the track for 50 plus years helping organize each night of racing.  There were 3 divisions and the majority were 2-year-old trotting phillies, New York sire stake races.

Wayne Teaven is the new track announcer who also announces in Buffalo too.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

Don Hoover, who grew up in North Tonawanda, took an interest in harness racing while attending Schenectady Union College near Saratoga Springs.

Before long, he was a horse owner and saw some success after college, so he quit his job at a bank so that he could train and drive his own horses.  After a few years, he moved into management at harness tracks, then spent some time with his own horses again before being offered the job as live racing director and racing secretary in February at Batavia Downs.

Hoover said he's very pleased he received the job offer, and happy that he accepted it. Batavia Downs is a special place, he said.

"Since I left Saratoga, and before I came to Batavia, I had the opportunity to race at every single racetrack in New York State," Hoover said. "Quite honestly, Batavia has the best overall facility of any of the tracks in New York State. They've redone the clubhouse. The clubhouse is great. Some of the tracks don't even open their clubhouses any more. Actually, the majority of them don't, or their clubhouses are open on a very limited basis.

"The track surface here was always a place that I liked to come race. It's always in great shape. Just the overall ambiance of Batavia Downs from when you walk into the lobby downstairs, whether you're coming to play slots, or coming to get something to eat, or coming in to watch the races. I know it's cliche, 'the friendly track,' but it's actually true. You feel it right when you walk in."

Wayne Teaven grew up around harness racing.  His parents had a horse in the 1980s and they often went to Buffalo Raceway. Teaven was quite impressed as a lad by the race announcer there, Pete Szymanski.

"He used to have this way about him," Teaven told The Batavian. "He used to be very comical in his calls. He would add flavor, and he would add a little personality to it. I always thought that was great. I'm like, 'Man, this guy is really good. And I wouldn't mind being that someday.'"

It's that flair and flavor that the Lyndonville native says he tries to bring to his race calls, either at Batavia Raceway, where he has worked since 2016, or now at Batavia Downs as he takes over this season as the full-time race announcer.

Press release:

The 2022 harness racing season will get underway at Batavia Downs at 6 p.m. on Wednesday (July 20) and when fans enter the property, they will notice the staff and facilities have undergone some major changes. Those started at the top and touched every aspect of the racing program in order to provide a positive and enjoyable experience for everyone this year.

Don Hoover has joined the Downs team and will serve in two positions. He is the Director of Live Racing and also the track’s new Race Secretary. Hoover is a western New York native who has extensive harness racing experience both as a horseman and on the administrative side. He has been on site at Batavia since early spring getting acquainted with his new positions and preparing for opening night.

“I am very excited about the upcoming 56 day live race meet here at Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel. Henry (Wojtaszek, President and CEO of Batavia Downs Gaming) and Scott (Kiedrowski, Vice-President of Operations at Batavia Downs Gaming) have provided me with a great team to work with and I feel that we have all the pieces in place for an outstanding year. Obviously the highlight of the meet will be August 26 when we host two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes going for a total of $206,000 and the Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace with an enhanced purse of $75,000. I can’t wait to welcome the fans in for the opening night card,” said Hoover.

Patty Bruno, who has years of experience in the race office at Batavia, will continue to work alongside Hoover as the Assistant Race Secretary and Program Director. Bruno’s resume also includes race secretary overseeing the New York Sire Stake county fair program.  

Mary Bucceri has been named Administrative Assistant and Group Sales Manager. Although Bucceri has been a Batavia team member since 2005, this new position has her geared towards bringing in new patrons, and providing them with a great time while exposing them to both harness racing and the outstanding facilities Batavia Downs has to offer.

The track itself has been completely re-graded and resurfaced with the best material available, all done under the supervision of track guru Kim Crawford. Crawford had the Genesee County oval lightning fast last year and it was widely hailed by visiting horsemen as one of the best surfaces to race over in New York state.  

Missy Rothfuss, who is one of the most respected outriders in the sport, will be joining Batavia Downs after 26 years at The Meadows. She will lead the post parade nightly and provide any necessary assistance to horsemen on the track during race nights to insure the safety and well-being of all the participants.   

The last two changes on the racing side include the addition of Wayne Teaven as the voice of the Downs and Wendy J Lowery who is the new track photographer. They will bring a fresh sound and look to their respective positions that will add to the overall race day experience.

This year’s schedule starts with a Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday rotation that will run through the end of August. There is one special card on Friday (Aug. 26) featuring two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes and Batavia Down’s signature stake, the $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace. Post time for the six Sundays is 1:15 p.m. and all Wednesdays, Saturdays and the Friday are at 6 p.m.

The schedule changes in September to Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with two exceptions. There is a special Labor Day matinee on Monday (Sept. 5) at 1:15 p.m. and no racing on Friday (Sept. 9). Again all post times (except Labor Day) are at 6 p.m. In October only the first Friday of the month will be raced and then it will be Wednesday and Saturday until the meet ends on December 17. All post times will be at 6 p.m. except Saturday (Nov. 5) which has a special 3:15 p.m. start due to the Breeders Cup.

All eight divisions of the New York Sire Stakes will be contested at the Downs this year and those eligible horses will compete for an estimated $784,000 in purses. Plus the NYSS Excel “A” and “B” series will also be held on those nights, driving that purse value even higher. The stakes will be in town on Wednesday July 20, July 27, August 3, August 10, August 17, Friday August 26 (when two divisions will go along with the $75,000 Kane Memorial) and Wednesday August 31.

Batavia Downs will continue to provide free downloadable full past performance racing programs on their website at bataviadownsgaming.com under the live racing tab (on the left). The Batavia Downs YouTube channel will also furnish free live streaming of all the races.

There are several promotions to note on opening night. There is a mandatory payout of an $1,188 carryover on the Jackpot Pick-6 in race 5. Free print programs will be available at the track on Wednesday as well. Free OTB programs for Batavia live will also be available for the first three days of the meet (July 20, 23, 24).

Also on opening night will be a free $500 “Lotta Cash” giveaway. Beginning in race two and running through race 11, one lucky winner will be drawn at random after each race from entries submitted and the winner will receive a $50 betting voucher. You must be 18 years of age to enter and present to win.  

And you can enter to win a “Stay and Play” package Wednesday that includes a one night stay at the Batavia Downs Gaming Hotel. Simply swipe your Player’s Club card between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to be eligible for the free random drawing. Again, you must be present to win.

Other promotions scheduled during the year include $2 Sunday’s which will offer $2 hot dogs, draft beer and soda on Sunday August 7, 21 and 28 from noon to 4 p.m. Monday (Sept. 5) is the annual Labor Day driver’s bike race sponsored by Mama Squirrels Nest. Eight bikes will be given away and $2 hot dogs, draft beer and soda will be available from noon to 4 p.m. And Sunday (Oct. 16) will be the highly anticipated Wiener Dog races.

The newly remodeled Clubhouse and Rail Bar will be open at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Friday (when racing) and Saturday, offering a limited bar food menu along with a full buffet that is now located on the lower level for easier access. Wednesday is a home-style Buffet while Friday and Saturday features prime rib and shrimp.

In the grandstand, the Homestretch Grill is newly remodeled and is offering fresh made-to-order subs, deli sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers and coming soon, brick oven pizza. They are open until 8 p.m. nightly.

The wagering menu is tasty as well. On a 10-race program, besides win, place and show there will be three daily doubles, 10 exactas, 10 trifectas, nine superfectas, two Pick-3’s, two Pick-4’s, one Pick-5 and one Jackpot Super High Five, all with low minimum wagers.

All of last year’s top drivers will be returning including Jim Morrill Jr., Kevin Cummings, Kyle Cummings, Drew Monti and Dave McNeight III. Top local trainers will be headed by last year’s leaders Jennifer Giuliani, Maria Rice, Jim McNeight and Shawn McDonough. And they will be joined by some new stables moving in.    

Jennifer Sansone will be shipping 16 horses from Kentucky and Pocono to stable at Batavia Downs, all to be driven by Fern Paquet Jr. Western New York native Jim Rothfuss will be returning home from The Meadows with a barn of 20 horses, many of which are locally owned. And other trainers who will be shipping in include Joe Skowyra, Kevin Reynolds Jr., Dale Gilmour and David Daigneault.

There was a 30 percent increase in stalls allotted this year to handle the large influx of requests from horsemen who wanted to race at Batavia Downs and with that increased horse population, very competitive racing should be seen during the meet.

For more information and updates all year, follow Batavia Downs Racetrack on Facebook or log onto the website at bataviadownsgaming.com.

Photo: File photo from 2013 by Howard Owens

Press release:

The New York Sire Stakes will join the festivities on opening night at Batavia Downs Wednesday (July 20) with three divisions of 2-year-old trotting fillies vying for $105,600 in total purse money. This is the first of seven nights of state-bred stake action slated that will see all eight divisions compete over the fast track at America’s oldest lighted harness track.

Trainer Marcus Melander will be on hand with a solid one-two punch made up of the current top series earners Canterbury Hanover (Chapter Seven-Charmed Life) and Kayleigh S (Chapter Seven-Pasithea Face S) who will face, much like themselves, some very lightly raced peers.   

Canterbury Hanover has one start and one win in NYSS action with a dominating 3-1/2 length, 1:59 victory at Saratoga Raceway on June 20. She has been off since that start except for a 2-year-old non-betting qualifier at the Meadowlands in preparation for this race. A repeat of her effort at Saratoga would make her the one to beat in this field. Brian Sears will drive from post five and is the morning line choice at 5-2.

She will be challenged by Bourbon On Ice (Chapter Seven-Spicedbourbongirl) who was in another division at Saratoga the same day and finished a strong second to Kayleigh S. Unfortunately the effort was thrown out after the judges disqualified her for bearing out and causing interference. Trainer/driver John Stark Jr. will look to make amends as they line up from post four for this race.

GiGi Hanover (Chapter Seven-Glad All Over) was the horse that got bumped by Bourbon On Ice and that probably cost her third that day after taking air in the third quarter. Trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt will look for clear sailing from post six to push the issue here.

Melander’s other entry in the next division Kayleigh S, is a full sister to this year’s number one ranked Hambletonian contender Joviality S and she herself looks to be developing very fast. She won her first lifetime start at Saratoga on June 20 as well in a gate to wire 2:00.4 jog and has a work in a 2-year-old qualifier at the Meadowlands where she won in 1:59.2, home in :28.4. She will be tough with Sears leaving from post four as the choice, also at 5-2.

Not to be overlooked here is Metro Matty (Met’s Hall-Order By Matilda) who is on a two race win streak, first in a Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono overnight in a lifetime best 1:58.3 and then right back in a NYSS at Buffalo in 2:01.4. And Usosweet Blue Chip (Devious Man-Twin B Kisses) who will make her career debut, but off of two impressive qualifying tries at the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono where she finished second twice, the last in 1:58 flat, home in :28.3.

Drew Monti will drive Metro Matty from post six for trainer John Butenschoen and Marcus Miller will team Usosweet Blue Chip for trainer Erv Miller and will depart from post three.

The third NYSS split has All The Rage (E L Titan-Monroe County) looking the part for trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt. In her lone lifetime start, she tracked Canterbury Hanover from fifth in NYSS action at Saratoga before pulling at the half, making up three lengths and finishing third, timed in 1:59.4. Starting from post three in a short field at 2-1 is a great spot for this filly to get the job done this week.

Competing against her is El Mission Goddess (E L Titan-Athena’s Mission) who started twice in NYSS competition, winning her second at Buffalo in 2:01.4. She left last week and Jim Marohn Jr. may do the same here from post two for trainer Tom Corelli.

And although still winless, Defiant Lady (Devious Man-Marina Grace) has been very competitive in two qualifiers and two NYSS races and showed she is a very versatile filly. Despite post five, there is a lot to like here including local reinsman Kevin Cummings getting the nod in the bike from trainer David Dewhurst.   

The New York Sire Stake events are carded as race four, six and eight, each going for $35,200. Three $15,000 Excel “A” splits will also go in race one, two and five while two $6,500 Excel “B” races are non-betting events and will be contested before the regular card. Post time for the first pari-mutuel race is 6 p.m.

Photo of Canterbury Hanover winning at Saratoga Raceway by Melissa Simser

Peter Noone's Herman's Hermits packed in the crowd for Rockin' the Downs tonight.

Photos courtesy Batavia Downs.

Press release:

Representatives from Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel are preparing for a new generation of harness racing at Batavia Downs beginning next Wednesday, July 20^th from America’s Oldest Lighted Harness Track.

The 56-night season is scheduled to run on select Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays throughout the summer and fall.  A full schedule with post times can be found on BataviaDownsGaming.com.  With a newly renovated Clubhouse, group packages are now available and interested parties can call 585-343-3750 to book. 

“We know that Western New York Harness fans will be pleased with the time and effort that has been put into renovating the historic Clubhouse, said Scott Kiedrowski, Vice President of Operations.  “We look forward to entertaining race fans this season and for years to come.  Our new racing management team will be more focused on putting on a quality racing product with the highest integrity.”

New Director of Live Racing, Don Hoover, brings a wealth of horse racing experience at a number of tracks in the Northeast including Saratoga Harness where he spent the last 12 years.  Originally from North Tonawanda, Don left a banking career to become a successful driver/trainer at Saratoga Raceway.  He even claimed his first horse at Batavia Downs.  Over 15 years he drove and trained as several tracks along the east coast including at Batavia Downs.  He worked as an assistant Race Secretary at Vernon Downs before becoming the Simulcast Director and Race Secretary.   He then moved to Northfield Park where he headed up their racing Publicity Department while also heading up Player’s Club and taking over Handicapping Duties.

“We are so excited to welcome Don to our team, “said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO at Batavia Downs. Never have we had someone on our team with such an impressive breadth of knowledge in this specialized industry.  Don will bring a whole new perspective with his wealth of experience from tracks across the country.  We look forward to implementing his ideas to bring the guests of Batavia Downs the very best racing experience.”

“As we welcome back race fans, we are offering two bets that were introduced last year and proved to be really popular,” said Hoover.  “Our Pick 5 starts each night in Race 1.  If no one holds a winning ticket, the money will roll over to the next night.  Also returning is the Jackpot Super High 5 which allows patrons to predict the exact order of the first 5 horses in our last race on select nights.  Again, if no one holds a winning ticket, that money will roll over to the next night.”

Wayne Teaven is the new Race Announcer at Batavia Downs.  Wayne wanted to be a race announcer ever since he followed announcer Pete Szymanski at Buffalo Raceway back in the late 80s and 90s. This self-taught announcer worked his way up the announcing ladder in the mid-2010s before calling full races at Buffalo Raceway in 2016.  He became the full-time announcer at Buffalo Raceway in 2017. He’s called NOFA Football as well as dirt bikes, motocross, and go-kart races and is excited to be the full-time announcer.

Assistant Race Secretary and Program Director Patty Bruno has been part of the Batavia Downs team for years.  She is very involved with the New York Sire Stakes, serving as race secretary and program director for most of the county fairs in New York State.  A product of SUNY Geneseo and Nazareth College, she worked as a teacher for 34 Years.  Having retired from full-time work, she now uses her extensive knowledge and positive attitude to promote harness racing throughout New York State.

Another longtime member of the Batavia Downs Team is Mary Bucceri, now in a new role as the Administrative Assistant for Live Racing.  After working in the Marketing and Food and Beverage Departments she has assisted with many events onsite, working with many local charities and organizations to raise money via events onsite.  Mary’s family has a long history in Harness Racing with her parents both working in the industry.  Mary will be working with local groups to bring them to the newly renovated clubhouse for the upcoming racing meet.

New Track Photographer, Wendy Lowery is a newlywed who has owned and operated her own photography company for over 10 years, specializing in portrait, wedding, lifestyle and nature photography.  Her photos have been featured in the Seneca Park (Rochester) Zoo newsletters and calendar.  Wendy’s passion for equestrian photography will make her an integral part of the new Batavia Downs Live Racing Team.

Missy Morris is the new Batavia Downs Outrider.  Outriders often lead the post parade but also help calm jumpy horses or help track them down should a horse get loose.  Missy is a 3rd generation from the Stark family that participated in racing on the Western NY circuit. She has been outriding at the Meadows Racetrack and Casino (Pittsburgh) for the last 26 years.   Having started while still in high school her career has seen her ride at two Breeders Crowns and 7 years at the Little Brown Jug.

“I am pleased with the new team that has assembled here at Batavia Downs, “said Hoover.  “We look forward to improving on the Live Racing product with new promotions and events for our valued guests.  We hope all Harness Fans from throughout the county will come by to see the newly renovated Clubhouse or enjoy one of our $2 dollar days.  Our emphasis will be on providing families and fans with an affordable and fun experience at the track.”