The horses are returning to Batavia Downs for another season of harness racing. The first dozen or so horses arrived today -- by Monday, officials expect the stables to be full and bustling once again.
Live harness racing makes its 2010 debut Monday. First post time is 6:40 p.m.
Batavia Downs has announced a brand-new scholarship race to give away $7,500 for college-bound students. The event will feature students from area schools, accompanied by professional drivers, in a "dash for the cash" on Saturday, Sept. 11.
“We are really pleased to be able to help support the education of students in our community in such a unique way,” said Batavia Downs General Manager Michael D. Kane. “We hope the students who participate not only walk away with scholarship funds, but also a greater understanding of the sport of harness racing.”
The students and their professional driving partners are: Emily Sallome, of Batavia High School, with Mike Pokornowski; Kaley Falkowski, of Batavia High, with Jim Mulcahy; Eric Harrower, of Batavia High, with Ron Beback, Jr.; Michael Norway, of Oakfield Alabama High School, with Mike Baumeister; and Tyler Pingrey, from Notre Dame High School, with Jim Graham.
This summer, the students will attend at least five training sessions at the track with their driver to learn the safety and skills needed to drive a horse. Then between the fourth and fifth live harness races on Sept. 11, they will line up behind the starting gate and compete for scholarships of $3,000, $2,000, $1,200, $800, and $500, depending on their finish.
“Five organizations came together to sponsor these scholarships as an investment in the youth of this community,” Kane said. “This scholarship event is sponsored by the horsemen, breeders, owners, and raceways of Western New York through the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State, the Western New York Harness Horsemen's Association, Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs Casino.”
Harness Horse Breeders is partnering with other New York tracks this summer to offer scholarships to students across the state.
Batavia Downs, America’s oldest lighted harness track, opens its 64th racing season on Monday, July 26, for 72 racing dates. Racing will be at the new post time of 6:40 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There will also be a special 1:15 p.m. post on Sunday, Aug. 29.
For more information, visit <http://www.batavia-downs.com/>.
"Batavia Downs Live," a three-and-a-half hour television broadcast of the harness races from Batavia Downs, returns on July 26 -- opening night of the 2010 season -- at the historic track.
Up to 69 race cards will be televised in the Time-Warner Rochester region on Channel 98. Channel 98 is on Time-Warner's basic digital package. The coverage area extends from portions of eastward Niagara County and through all or most of Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Yates and Steuben counties.
The broadcast begins at 6:30 p.m.,10 mintues before the Downs' new 6:40 p.m. first race post time.
Once again, racing analyst Todd Haight and track announcer Joe Zambito will anchor the broadcast.
“We are extremely pleased to be back on Time-Warner,” said Michael D. Kane, vice president of Live Racing and OTB branch operations. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Batavia Downs to once again showcase its live racing product to new customers and to provide our longtime racing fans with the nightly races in the comfort of their homes.”
Last year the races were also shown in Erie County and Buffalo.
“We continue discussions with Time-Warner in those areas, but as of right now we have no deal in place," Kane said. "Our racing fans should visit our website for any further updates.” <http://www.bataviadownscasino/>
Western Regional Off-Track betting, the owner of Batavia Downs, provides telephone betting through its Dial-A-Bet service. Patrons may phone 1-800-724-4000 to establish an account.
July is upon us, and that means the return of pacers and trotters to Batavia Downs Casino.
Opening night is July 26, which not only marks the 64th season of live harness racing at America’s Oldest Lighted Harness Track, but a newly expanded stakes schedule.
Batavia is doubling the number of New York Sire Stakes contests it will offer as compared to 2009 and is adding the County Fair Finals for 2- and 3-year-old pacers and trotters.
The 2010 Batavia Downs Casino stakes schedule boasts combined purses in excess of $1 million. Stakes racing culminates with the eighth annual Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace on Oct. 16.
“We are thrilled to see an expanded stakes schedule for 2010,” said Todd Haight, track analyst for Batavia Downs Casino. “I’m confident the New York bred pacers and trotters will bring as much excitement and as many fast miles for our patrons this year as they did in 2009.”
In all, there will be eight New York Sire Stakes and seven New York Late Closers throughout July, August and September at Batavia Downs Casino.
The glamour division, the 3-year-old New York Sire Stakes colt and gelding pacers, are set to race on Saturday, Sept. 4. In 2009, the 3-year-old pacers gave Kenneth J’s all-age track record of 1:52 a scare when Jim Morrill Jr., with OK Braveheart, Handsome Harry, and Hypnotic Blue Chip each did the mile in a sizzling 1:52.2, 1:53 and 1:52.3, respectively. OK Braveheart’s 1:52.2 mile established a new track record for 3-year-olds.
Haight is optimistic that the same level of talent will be showcased this year as well.
Sept. 18 marks a notable day in the 70-year history of Batavia Downs, as the second largest (combined) stakes purses ever will be up for grabs when the 2-year-old filly trotters and 3-year-old colt trotters vie for estimated purses of $280,000. This figure is second only to Armbro Flori’s victory in the Breeders Crown in 1988, which boasted a purse of $286,756.
Another highly anticipated event this year is the Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace, which carried a $40,000 purse in 2009. Scheduled for Oct. 16, Haight believes that the timing is attractive for pacers that want to continue racing after the Oct. 9 Breeders Crown.
“Scheduling the Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace a week after the Breeders Crown could be an attractive option for many of the best horses in all of harness racing,” Haight said.
Last year’s winner, Foiled Again, one of the top pacers in the sport, cruised around the Downs oval in 1:52.3. Matt Kakaley was in the sulky for trainer Ron Burke <http://fanguide.ustrotting.com/dt_stars_profiles.cfm?id=133792>.
For the complete Batavia Downs stakes schedule, visit www.bataviadownscasino.com <http://www.bataviadownscasino.com/>.
Mercy Flight picked up a patient at the Batavia Downs parking lot around 9 a.m.
According to a witness, a man apparently fainted and fell off a truck at the Farmers' Market.
No further information is available.
This weekend, horses and riders from throughout Western New York again converged on Batavia Downs for a horse show and riding competition.
The show continues today and tomorrow.
More photos after the jump:
With summer less than two weeks away, farm-grown fruits and vegetables will soon be in plentiful supply at Batavia’s Genesee Country Farmers’ Market. The popular open-air market begins its 2010 season this Tuesday, June 15, in the parking lot at Batavia Downs Casino.
In addition to farm-fresh produce, the market will also feature home-baked goods like bread, rolls, pastries, pies and muffins.
Member wineries of the Niagara Wine Trail will once again offer a wide variety of local wines to taste and purchase. And a new addition this year is a lunch wagon serving sandwiches, drinks and desserts. About 20 vendors are expected to participate.
In making the announcement, Market Manager Paul Fenton said “We are looking forward to our third season at Batavia Downs Casino. It’s an easily accessible spot for all of our customers and is convenient for the many patrons of The Downs, too.
"We are proud of the fact that we are a grower’s market and everything we sell is grown by our vendors.”
The market will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday through Oct. 29.
There was a large turn out Friday evening at Batavia Downs for the annual Festival of Hope to benefit Genesee Cancer Assistance.
GCA raised $30,000 this year.
The event featured a 5K walk/run, games for children, music, a Chinese Auction and haircuts and beauty treatments.
On left below, Paul C. Stomper poses with Dr. Kevin Mudd. Stomper was the keynote speaker Friday. The Batavia native has travelled the U.S. working with cancer patients and has authored a book, "Come Sunday, Inspiration for Living with Heart." Mudd is president of GCA. You can find out more about Stomper and his book at ComeSunday.net.
More pictures after the jump:
The sun is shining and all systems are “go” for the 2010 Tuesday Night Cruises at Batavia Downs Casino.
Cruise director Darrell Mase (pronounced “Mays”) and Batavia’s Lone Wolf Cruisers are supervising the shows in cooperation with Batavia Downs Casino.
Hours are 6 to 9 p.m. in the north end of the BDC parking lot on Park Road (near the OTB Simulcast Center – formerly Matty’s Pizzeria). The cruises will take place every Tuesday – weather permitting - through Aug. 31.
The shows are free and open to cars, trucks and motorcycles. All cruisers receive $5 in casino free play and the chance to win other prizes from the casino’s promotion staff. A cruisin’ soundtrack will be provided by DJ Dennis.
There's a horse show going on at Batavia Downs. Riders from all over the northeast are in Batavia to test their skills and display their handsome mounts. If you've missed it, the show continues Sunday at 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.
More photos after the jump:
In an audit of New York's five regional off-track betting operations, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli warned that OTB wagering has dropped precipitously over the past five years, threatening the viability of the OTBs.
Western OTB comes off a little better in DiNapoli's audit, primarily because the gains in video slot operations are more than offsetting the declines in horse wagering (full Western OTB report (pdf)).
Western OTB Corporate and Branch Operations has experienced a 10-percent ($15.6 million) decline in net handle (total amount bet) over the past five years. And through May 2009, its net handle was down over $5 million compared to the same time the previous year. In addition, live racing and inter-track wagering at Batavia Downs were down 7.6 percent in 2008 from the prior year and have decreased 25 percent since 2005.
However, the corporation’s new video-gaming facility has generated additional revenue for the OTB. As a result, operating revenues increased to more than $21 million in 2008 compared to nearly $17.6 million in 2004, a 19-percent hike. These increases have significantly affected revenue distributions to local governments, which have grown from almost $3.9 million in 2004 to more than $4.9 million in 2008.
In the report on Western OTB, DiNapoli expresses concern that VTL gaming could level off or decline, depending on the economy or changing competitive issues.
The Buffalo News received a written response from OTB President Martin Basinait, who said WOTB is "somewhat more optimistic."
But he said a number of changes can be made in state law to make the OTBs more competitive, such as changing the formula by which revenues are shared with tracks.
Basinait noted other past warnings from the state comptroller's office, including a 2005 report that found the OTB did not properly plan for the possibility of failure of Batavia Downs and the casino. He said the success of the casino has shown it was "not due to happenstance."
Basinait said DiNapoli's red flags about the future economic health of the OTB's casino are "unwarranted."
The 4th annual Batavia Showtime horse show has courses for families and people of all ages featuring horse (and pony) jumpers and hunters. It will take place at the infield of the Batavia Downs Casino, at 8315 Park Road., Batavia, and will run from 7:30 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m.
There are three sets of four-day shows on these dates:
Refreshments and bleacher seating will be available. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Lizabeth Keller at 820-7889 or visit www.tsgequineevents.com.
The 4th annual Batavia Showtime horse show has courses for families and people of all ages featuring horse (and pony) jumpers and hunters. It will take place at the infield of the Batavia Downs Casino, at 8315 Park Rd. in Batavia, and will run from 7:30 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m.
This is a four-day event and will last from Thursday, June 24 through Sunday, June 27.
The 4th annual Batavia Showtime horse show has courses for families and people of all ages featuring horse (and pony) jumpers and hunters. It will take place at the infield of the Batavia Downs Casino, at 8315 Park Rd. in Batavia, and will run from 7:30 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m.
There will be two sets of four-day shows on the following dates:
The 4th annual Batavia Showtime horse show has courses for families and people of all ages featuring horse (and pony) jumpers and hunters. It will take place at the infield of the Batavia Downs Casino, at 8315 Park Rd. in Batavia, and will run from 7:30 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m.
There will be three sets of four-day shows on the following dates:
Thursday, May 20 through Sunday, May 23.
Thursday, June 17 through Sunday, June 20.
Thursday, June 24 through Sunday, June 27.
Harness racing isn't want it used to be and probably never will be again, according to newly elected Chairman of the Western Region Off Track Betting Board of Directors Dick Siebert.
In an interview with WBTA, Siebert characterized harness racing as "the cost of doing business." It's the loss leader that under state law allows Batavia Downs Casino to keep its doors open for the much more profitable video slot machines.
"The people that used to come to our parlors, the 55 and older men, are no longer 55 years of age," Siebert said. "Unfortunately, they're dying off. The newer group of people, it doesn't have the interest to them that it did with the old bettor. ... I honestly can't see where harness racing is going to turn around and ever be back where it was in the '50s, '60s and '70s."
He said in 2009, Batavia Downs lost $1.5 million on harness racing while the video lottery terminals brought in $3 million in profits.
To help reduce harness racing costs, more bets will be placed at electronic terminals rather than at the traditional caged window with a person taking the bet.
Meanwhile, Siebert said the Downs continues to work with state regulators on a plan to address deficiencies in some administrative procedures. He said the board is looking to hire a consultant to help address the state's concerns, rather than bring in a management company to take over the Downs' operations, which is one of the state's other suggestions.
Full interview available here (mp3).
The joint was hopping Saturday night at Batavia Downs, with more than 6,100 patrons on hand for a muscle car drawing and a live band in the Paddock Room.
There were 3.1 million credits played Saturday, and Marty Biniasz, director of marketing, said that is a new record, beating the 2.8 million credits played one night last march.
The muscle car -- a 2010 Camero SS -- was won by a guy named Jim (last name not released) from Le Roy. He opted for the $20,000 instead.
Players eligible for the drawing earned chances to win through play at the casino over the previous seven weeks.
Last year, the an OTB employee won the Dodge Challenger given away by the Downs. This year, Biniasz said, before the winner was announced officials made sure he wasn't an employee of the Downs, of OTB or the dealership sponsoring the contest.
To accommodate the large crowd, the Downs opened up the Paddock Room, where an 80s tribute band played live, and the grandstands were open with TVs tuned either to basketball or the Buffalo Sabres game.
A new days dawns as three off-track-betting regions today unveiled a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) designed to reinvigorate the New York’s struggling racing industry.
As part of the JVA, the presidents of Capital OTB, Suffolk OTB and Western OTB said that they will engage in cooperative ventures that increase efficiencies, boosting the revenue that the participating OTBs send to their sponsoring counties.
Batavia Downs is not closing.
That's the message this morning from Western OTB Board Member Dick Siebert, who was part of a committee that met with State Lottery officials in Schenectady yesterday.
"We want our friends in the community and our employees to know that they're not going to be out of jobs," Seibert said. "Batavia Downs is not closing and that never really was the plan according to them (Lottery officials)."
The OTB told Lottery officials that they will begin immediately the process of hiring a consultant to help Batavia Downs come into compliance with Lottery regulations. The consultant will be hired in cooperation with the Lottery.
There have been no allegations of any misuse of funds, missing funds or serious wrongdoing. The Lottery issued a letter Feb. 3 raising concerns about procedural and administrative practices at the Downs and threatened to pull its video lottery terminals by March 1 if the Downs did not take steps to correct the reported deficiencies.
Siebert said he believes Lottery officials are now satisfied that the OTB board has a plan and is on the right track to address the state's concerns. The March 1 deadline has been lifted, he said.
"I'm sure as long as we show we're working diligently to do what the Lottery wants us to do, I'm sure the Lottery will be flexible (on the deadline)," Siebert said.
The consultant -- which must be approved by the Lottery -- will help the Downs comply with Lottery requirements and ensure it remains open.
The OTB is ready to do just about anything to avoid having the State Lottery pull all of the video lottery terminals from Batavia Downs Casino.
That was the message from Western OTB attorney Timothy McCarthy following a closed session meeting of the board at the casino and racetrack this morning.
"They're the boss and it's important they are treated as such and that we not get in a fight as to what we may have done," McCarthy said.
While characterizing the issues raised by the State Lottery in a Feb. 3 letter to the OTB board as "procedural" and "administrative," he said the board is taking the warning very seriously and will react accordingly.
He stressed that there are no allegations of criminality or missing money.
Before the board went into closed session, McCarthy said a private meeting was necessary in order to discuss possible litigation.
After the meeting, McCarthy said there is no plan to get involved in a lawsuit, but given the nature of the enforcement action, the possibility of a hearing and the need to preserve attorney-client privilege, he thought the private session was necessary.
"We chose not to be pugnacious," McCarthy said. "We chose to try and work with the Lottery. We take the Lottery very seriously. The determination by the board was, 'let's find the best way to keep peace.' The best way to keep the peace is to go hat in hand to the Lottery. There is no benefit to be achieved by being litigious, but nevertheless, that option, as it obviously must, was considered."
McCarthy noted that Batavia Downs has provided $75 million in revenue for state schools since it opened with VLTs (slot machines) in May 2005. The Downs also provides a good deal of revenue to local government agencies.
He said the board will do what's necessary to maintain that cash flow.
"If they (board members) want to characterize it as going to the woodshed, they may very well characterize it as such," McCarthy said.
The board agreed to send a four-person delegation to Schenectady to meet with Lottery officials in order to find a solution to the threat of closure.
Among the Lottery's requests is that the Downs hire a consultant to help put the procedural and administrative issues back in order. McCarthy did not say so explicitly, but the tone and tenor of his remarks indicate a willingness to follow that advice.
The members of the delegation will be Paul Lattimore, from Cayuga County, Richard Bianchi, Monroe, Richard Siebert, Genesee and Marcia Touhey, Orleans.
Previously:
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