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By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
Batavia, NY — Live harness racing returns to Batavia Downs on Saturday (July 27) as the 2024 summer/fall season gets underway with a full 15-race card that starts at 6 p.m. The season runs through Saturday (Dec. 7) and features a 56-day meet.
The opening night card includes the first visit of the year from the New York Sire Stakes as the 3-year-old pacing fillies will be on hand to compete in two $58,100 divisions. There will also be three Excelsior races going for $20,000 each, bringing the total stake purses available that night to $176,200.
The live schedule changes several times throughout the year. It starts out with a Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday schedule through August 17. Then it switches to Wednesday, Friday, Saturday through November 23 with the exception of Friday (Sept. 6) which will be dark due to the special Monday (Sept. 2) Labor Day matinee card starting at 1:15 p.m. The final two weeks of the meet cut back to Wednesday, Saturday. Post time for all race days — with the exception of the Labor Day matinee — will be at 6 p.m.
Once again, there is a hearty slate of New York Sire Stake action. The state-bred series will be in action on Saturday (July 27-$103,000 3-year-old filly pace), Wednesday (July 31-$103,000 3-year-old colt pace), Wednesday (Aug. 7-$93,000 2-year-old colt pace), Wednesday (Aug. 14-$93,000 2-year-old filly pace), Wednesday (Aug. 21-$93,000 2-year-old colt trot), Saturday (Aug. 24$103,000 3-year-old colt trot and $103,000 3-year-old filly trot) and Wednesday (Aug. 28-$93,000 2-year-old filly trot).
Also on that NYSS double-header 3-year-old colt and filly trotting card on Saturday (Aug. 24) will be the Down’s signature event, the Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational pace that will go for $100,000 this year. Free Kane Pace T-shirts will be given away on that night.
Don Hoover, Director of Live Racing at Batavia Downs, looks to build on the record wagering that the track realized earlier this year.
“I am looking forward to the upcoming meet, anticipating that the momentum from the highly successful winter meet will continue for the remainder of this year. We set several betting records during our early year meet and hopefully we can keep that going during this session,” said Hoover.
Looking to drive that momentum is Tom Agosti, who recently joined the staff at Batavia Downs as the new race secretary. He will be responsible for putting together the competitive fields that will be featured throughout the year.
Agosti has established a new text line to relay vital information regarding draws and racing information for the upcoming meet. Horsemen and women can sign up for this service by texting bataviadowns to 732.363.7700. Subscribing to this service will be advantageous to all when it comes to filling races or having immediate knowledge of any changes in schedule. All are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.
Bettors will have plenty of opportunities with a wagering menu that includes three Doubles, 10 Exactas, 10 Trifectas, nine Superfectas, two Pick-3’s, two Pick-4’s, one Pick-5 and one Jackpot Super High Five available on every 10-race card.
All the top drivers will be back including last year’s top five leaders Jim Morrill Jr., Kevin Cummings, Dave McNeight III, Kyle Cummings and James McNeight Jr.
Leading trainers Sam Smith, Shawn McDonough, Dave Russo, Tammy Cummings, James Rothfuss and Ryan Swift will also be back along with a host of others.
The clubhouse will be open for all race dates and offer a varied menu. Every Friday and Saturday will feature a buffet while the other race nights have a menu provided by the Center Street Smokehouse. The Railbar will always be open for live racing.
Patrons will also have plenty of promotions to look forward to throughout the year.
On opening night there will be free programs in the grandstand and the Lotta Cash Giveaway, where customers can deposit non-winning tickets wagered on Batavia Downs races for a chance to win two $250 betting vouchers and a Batavia Downs Gaming Play and Stay package that includes one night’s stay at the Batavia Downs Gaming Hotel, $25 in gaming Free Play and a $50 dinner certificate to Fortune’s.
The Play and Stay promotion will also be held every Wednesday during the meet where customers can deposit non-winning tickets wagered on Batavia Downs races for a chance to win a Batavia Downs Gaming Play and Stay package that was previously described.
Also on Wednesday is the Finale Frenzy promotion where you get $25 gaming Free Play when you wager $25 on the last race at Batavia Downs.
And there is also the Early Bird Daily Double, where you receive $10 in gaming Free Play when you wager at least $10 at the same time on the Early Daily Double.
Plus every live racing program includes a $5 gaming Free Play coupon.
All promotions require participants be Players Club members and gaming Free Play is subject to required base points being earned before redemption. Full rules are available in the program and online.
You can watch all the live racing action for free on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel and free, full past performance programs for every live race night will be available on the Batavia Downs website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the live racing tab.