{"id":38650,"date":"2022-12-28T21:23:45","date_gmt":"2022-12-29T02:23:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=38650"},"modified":"2022-12-28T21:23:45","modified_gmt":"2022-12-29T02:23:45","slug":"genesee-county-batavia-downs-fared-well-among-the-competition-in-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2022\/12\/28\/genesee-county-batavia-downs-fared-well-among-the-competition-in-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Batavia Downs fared well among the competition in 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
File photo-Opening Day 2022<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2022 racing season came to a close at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Dec. 17) and although some declines in handle were realized, the track performed better than many national trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The track recorded its fourth highest total on-track handle for Batavia live racing since Western Regional OTB reopened the track in 2002, finishing only $33,599 behind the 2021 totals while racing the same number of days (55). However the total handle (from all sources) for Batavia live racing was down 6.4% from last year and that may have been a direct result of more competition for the  expendable gaming dollar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don Hoover, General Manager of Live Racing and Race Secretary at Batavia Downs said, \u201cKeeping these numbers in context, total wagering on harness racing in the United States this year is down 8.4% over 2021, which puts Batavia ahead of the national average. The introduction of online sports wagering in New York State in January of 2022 had a definite impact on the betting dollar at every race track and the months of road work on the new Park Road extension put a definite crimp on our in-house business during our prime summer dates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news was that local horsemen and women were beneficiaries of some of the best purses in the state during the meet, and those numbers drew more horses that stiffened the competition on the track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Total purses (including stakes) at Batavia Downs were up 31% from 2021. Overnight purses alone increased by 29%, due in part to holding 88 more races this year. That latter increase was distributed to local racing participants and the agricultural infrastructure in the area will benefit directly from that money as it goes back into the local economies of Western New York and the Southern Tier, supporting the farmers, blacksmiths, veterinarians and others businesses that directly service the racing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bigger purses brought more horses and that added competition produced better payouts. Batavia Downs registered 45.8% winning favorites and that was the lowest among competing tracks at Buffalo, Monticello, Northfield, Saratoga and Yonkers who averaged between 46.8% and 48.3%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn sum, despite slight declines in overall wagering, I am happy with the robust growth shown in racing, with increases in average field size, overnight purses distributed, and the total number of horses competing at Batavia Downs in 2022,\u201d said Hoover.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Probably the single greatest racing moment of the meet was when American Dealer N (Joe Bongiorno) scored a 2-1\/2 length victory in the 17th edition of the $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace which was held on Friday (Aug. 26) at Batavia Downs, setting a new all-time track record of 1:50.2. The lightning-fast speed strip also produced two other track records along with a list of new lifetime marks for competing horses.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local driving favorite Kevin Cummings captured the dash title at the recently concluded session by winning 150 races, 14 more than the second place Jim Morrill Jr. However, Morrill and Cummings both made history by being the first drivers to ever surpass $1 million in earnings in the history of Batavia Downs (Morrill-$1,115,951, Cummings-$1,032,364). Shawn McDonough won his first ever training title at the Downs finishing with 52 wins, only two more then the second place Jennifer Giuliani (50).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The completion of the 2022 meet does not mean that Batavia Downs will be dark for long. For the first time in over 20 years, winter racing will be back and begin at the Genesee County oval on Monday (Jan. 9) and continue through Monday (Feb. 27). The eight-week meet will be conducted on a Monday-Thursday schedule with post time at 3 p.m. for all race days.\u00a0Opening day will feature\u00a0a $17,500 guaranteed pool\u00a0that also has a\u00a0mandatory payout on the Jackpot Super Hi-5 in the day\u2019s last race.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs The 2022 racing season came to a close at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Dec. 17) and although some declines in handle were realized, the track performed better than many national trends. The track recorded its fourth highest total on-track handle for Batavia live racing since Western Regional \u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38651,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8],"tags":[376],"class_list":["post-38650","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-batavia","tag-batavia-downs"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-a3o","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":59792,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/12\/12\/genesee-county-batavia-downs-bucks-national-trend-with-marked-handle-increase\/","url_meta":{"origin":38650,"position":0},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Batavia Downs bucks national trend with marked handle increase","author":"aka","date":"December 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"(File Photo) By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs Batavia, NY --- The 2024 racing season wrapped up at Batavia Downs last Saturday (Dec. 7) night and that also closed the track\u2019s books for the year. After all the paperwork was finalized, the bottom line showed that the business of harness\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/294728761_5561952967190942_4993887756819139858_n.webp?fit=1024%2C534&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/294728761_5561952967190942_4993887756819139858_n.webp?fit=1024%2C534&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/294728761_5561952967190942_4993887756819139858_n.webp?fit=1024%2C534&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/294728761_5561952967190942_4993887756819139858_n.webp?fit=1024%2C534&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49798,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/01\/22\/genesee-county-batavia-downs-record-handle-surges-past-one-half-million-on-monday\/","url_meta":{"origin":38650,"position":1},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Batavia Downs record handle surges past one-half million on Monday","author":"aka","date":"January 22, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs (Photo courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery) Batavia, NY \u2014 The track was fast for the Monday afternoon (Jan. 22) card at Batavia Downs, and so was the pace at which money flowed through the windows from all outlets as the track handled $509,180, setting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Stonebridge-Hypnos-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C681&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Stonebridge-Hypnos-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C681&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Stonebridge-Hypnos-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C681&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Stonebridge-Hypnos-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C681&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49114,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2023\/12\/20\/genesee-county-batavia-downs-realized-a-75-handle-increase-in-2023\/","url_meta":{"origin":38650,"position":2},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Batavia Downs realized a 75% handle increase in 2023","author":"aka","date":"December 20, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs (Photo courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery) Batavia, NY --- With the books now finalized after the last live card of racing took place on Saturday (Dec. 9), Batavia Downs saw a major growth in handle that started last January during their first winter meet\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Snow-4.jpg?fit=1200%2C1103&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Snow-4.jpg?fit=1200%2C1103&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Snow-4.jpg?fit=1200%2C1103&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Snow-4.jpg?fit=1200%2C1103&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Snow-4.jpg?fit=1200%2C1103&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47308,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2023\/09\/28\/genesee-county-batavia-downs-boasting-record-handle-at-current-meet\/","url_meta":{"origin":38650,"position":3},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Batavia Downs boasting record handle at current meet","author":"aka","date":"September 28, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs (Photo provided by Batavia Downs) Batavia, NY \u2014\u00a0As the 2023 live racing season at Batavia Downs reached the halfway mark, the numbers show that bettors came out in full force and that may lead to the track's most profitable year since Western Regional Off\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BD-night-II.jpg?fit=1200%2C663&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BD-night-II.jpg?fit=1200%2C663&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BD-night-II.jpg?fit=1200%2C663&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BD-night-II.jpg?fit=1200%2C663&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BD-night-II.jpg?fit=1200%2C663&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":66471,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/07\/29\/genesee-county-batavia-downs-opener-sees-29-increase-in-handle-over-2024\/","url_meta":{"origin":38650,"position":4},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Batavia Downs opener sees 29% increase in handle over 2024","author":"aka","date":"July 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"File photo-July 26, 2025 By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs Batavia, NY --- When Batavia Downs kicked off its 2025 summer\/fall session of live racing on Saturday (July 26), there was a notable increase in live attendance and the amount of money that bettors placed on races held at Batavia,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/VideoCapture_20250726-195042-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C736&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/VideoCapture_20250726-195042-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C736&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/VideoCapture_20250726-195042-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C736&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/VideoCapture_20250726-195042-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C736&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/VideoCapture_20250726-195042-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C736&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":66338,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/07\/24\/lots-of-history-at-batavia-downs-as-the-85th-season-of-harness-racing-begins-saturday-at-the-oldest-lighted-harness-racing-track-in-north-america\/","url_meta":{"origin":38650,"position":5},"title":"Lots of history at Batavia Downs as the 85th season of harness racing begins Saturday at the oldest lighted harness racing track in North America","author":"aka","date":"July 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"From left-Kyle Swift with his mom\/trainer Ryan Swift, Tim McNeight Jr., Tammy Cummings\/trainer\/ mom of Kyle Cummings (right). 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