legends and stars

It's Legends and Stars Weekend at Batavia Downs, which includes a memorabilia show in the Parks Place Events Center and autograph sessions for several retired sports stars.

The show opened Friday evening and will continue on Saturday.

The new CEO and president of Western Regional Off-Track Betting, Byron Brown, was on hand Friday, mingling with guests and vendors. This visit was documented by a video crew, capturing footage for planned future TV commercials promoting Batavia Downs as an event center.

Here's Saturday's autograph session lineup:

• Mark Recchi, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
• Pierre Turgeon, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Brett Hull, 12:00 – 12:45 p.m.
• Scott Norwood, 12:30 – 1:15 p.m.
• Chris Chelios, 1:15 – 2:00 p.m.
• Howard Ballard, 1:45 – 2:00 p.m.
• Bruce Smith, 2:00 – 2:30 p.m.
• Eric Wood, 2:30 – 3:00 p.m.
• Cornelius Bennett, 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
• Darryl Talley, 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.

For more information and tickets, click here.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Press Release:

Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel had a record-setting week From February 18 to 24.  With daily promotions, nicer weather, and the heavily anticipated Legends & Stars Sports Card Expo taking place in the week, more than $25 million in Credits Played went through the machines at the gaming facility, marking its highest week-long total of all time.

On Friday, Feb. 23, Batavia Downs reported its third-best, single-day record in credits played, with $5,173,626.

The week total for net win of $1,871,544 was the second-highest in Batavia Downs's history. 

“We are so very appreciative that, in a region with so many entertainment options, people are choosing to visit Batavia Downs in record numbers," said Henry Wojtaszek, Batavia Downs President and CEO.  “To commemorate the record-breaking weekend and to say "thank you" to our guests, I’ve asked our Marketing Team to do a special promotional drawing on Sunday.“

A special drawing, set for 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, will see one person win $2,000 in cash and a pair of suite-level tickets to the Zach Bryan March 10 concert at KeyBank Center.

Anyone who plays on March 3, using their Player's Card, is eligible for the contest.

Press release:

Batavia Downs has announced the lineup for the upcoming Legends and Stars collectors' expo to be held on Oct. 27^th and 28^th.

Former Dallas football player, three time Super Bowl champion, NFL Hall of Famer, and all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith will appear on Sunday. Also appearing Sunday will be former Buffalo football players including: Bruce Smith, Andre Reed, Marv Levy, Darryl Talley, Billy Shaw, Kurt Shultz, Antowain Smith, Mark Maddox and John Davis.

“We are extremely pleased to be welcoming back the Legends and Stars Collectors Expo,” said Henry Wojtaszek, CEO/president at Batavia Downs. “Bringing athletes of the past and present to Batavia Downs so that people can meet their sports heroes is something we and our customers look forward to each year.”

Current Buffalo football player Kelvin Benjamin will appear on Saturday as will former Buffalo hockey stars Matthew Barnaby and Pat Lafontaine.

“Legends and Stars are pleased to be returning to Batavia Downs for our Fall Sports Expo,” said Legends and Stars staff member Chris Sabatello. “With a robust lineup of autograph guests and sold-out Paddock Room filled with high quality sports memorabilia dealers, we expect this show to be a first-class experience for fans and collectors alike.”

Rounding out the show’s football stars include Ken Anderson, former Cincinnati Bengal, Mark Duper and Mark Clayton, former Miami Dolphin standouts and former Patriots teammates Irving Fryar and Steve Grogan -- all on Saturday.

Baseball fans may seek out Yankees great Ron Guidry, White Sox standout Jack McDowell and former Pirate Andy Van Slyke, all appearing on Saturday.

Appearing both days is actor Dwier Brown, who cinema fans may recognize as John Kinsella from the movie "Field of Dreams."

The show takes place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Cost is $8 for admission (Kids 12 and under are free) and all attendees 18 years of age or older receive $7 in Free Play. Each paid admission includes one free autograph to a designated guest.

Specific information on which athletes are appearing on what days, the times they will be appearing and cost of signatures can be found at legendsandstars.net

About Batavia Downs/WROTB

Owned and operated by 15 Western New York counties and the cities of Rochester and Buffalo, Western Region Off-Track Betting Corporation is a public benefit corporation with headquarters in Batavia, NY. WROTB owns and operates 29 branches, as well as Batavia Downs Gaming, a Standardbred racetrack and gaming facility. Since its inception, Western Region OTB has generated more than $215 million in operating and surcharge revenues to the taxpayers of those participating municipalities.