{"id":64123,"date":"2025-04-26T15:36:54","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T19:36:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=64123"},"modified":"2025-04-26T15:36:54","modified_gmt":"2025-04-26T19:36:54","slug":"genesee-county-celebration-of-top-harness-racing-talent-returns-as-batavia-downs-will-host-new-york-sire-stakes-2025-night-of-champions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/04\/26\/genesee-county-celebration-of-top-harness-racing-talent-returns-as-batavia-downs-will-host-new-york-sire-stakes-2025-night-of-champions\/","title":{"rendered":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Celebration of Top Harness Racing Talent Returns as Batavia Downs will host New York Sire Stakes 2025 \u201cNight of Champions\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Press release<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALBANY, N.Y. \u2014 The Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund is proud to
announce that the 2025 New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) \u201cNight of Champions\u201d will take place
on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel in Batavia, N.Y.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the premier event of the NYSS season, the Night of Champions showcases the top two-
and three-year-old Standardbreds bred, owned, and raced in New York State. With over
$2.4 million in purse money awarded across the evening, the event represents the pinnacle
of the harness racing calendar.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are excited to bring the Night of Champions back to Batavia Downs, where the event was
last hosted in 2019,\u201d said Ralph Scunziano, Executive Director of the Agriculture & NYS Horse
Breeding Development Fund. \u201cBatavia Downs has demonstrated an outstanding commitment
to hosting world-class racing, and their upgraded clubhouse and facilities are sure to create
another memorable experience for our horsemen, owners, and fans.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located between Buffalo and Rochester, Batavia Downs is centrally situated in Western
New York\u2019s agricultural hub, offering a unique opportunity to highlight both the sport of
harness racing and the economic impact of equine breeding and training in the region. The
half-mile track is well known for its quality surface and competitive racing.
The races will be streamed live on Batavia Downs\u2019 YouTube page, and a live post-position
draw will take place on Facebook ahead of the event. Pre-race commentary and on-site
interviews with winning connections will also enhance the live broadcast experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are honored to have been selected to host this prestigious event here at Batavia Downs. I
appreciate the confidence that the Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund has
in our team here and we will not let them down. Our track and facility will be ready to go, and
we are prepared to celebrate the \u201cNight of Champions\u201d with all of people that attend,\u201d said
Byron Brown, President and CEO of Western Regional Off Track Betting Corporation.
The 2025 Night of Champions will be the culmination of a 56-day NYSS season, beginning
May 18 at Saratoga Raceway. Full schedules for the Sire Stakes, Excelsior Series, and County
Fair Series are available at www.nysirestakes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Press release ALBANY, N.Y. \u2014 The Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund is proud toannounce that the 2025 New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) \u201cNight of Champions\u201d will take placeon Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel in Batavia, N.Y. As the premier event of the NYSS \u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":64125,"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":[8,23],"tags":[5089],"class_list":["post-64123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-batavia","category-genesee-county","tag-sire-stakes-2025-night-of-champions"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-gGf","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11082,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2019\/09\/15\/batavia-night-of-champions-sire-stakes-in-wny-for-the-first-time\/","url_meta":{"origin":64123,"position":0},"title":"BATAVIA\/Night of Champions, Sire Stakes in WNY for the first time","author":"aka","date":"September 15, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/ZJp_g69TBhY Video from Sire Stakes event at Batavia Downs The $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions races highlight the richest card of racing ever held in Western New York. This is the first time the event was held in WNY at Batavia Downs. Background on Sire Stakes\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\/2019\/09\/Downs-still.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Downs-still.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Downs-still.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Downs-still.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Downs-still.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6001,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2018\/09\/22\/genesee-county-batavia-downs-awarded-sire-stakes-night-of-champions-event\/","url_meta":{"origin":64123,"position":1},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Batavia Downs awarded Sire Stakes Night of Champions event","author":"aka","date":"September 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Batavia Downs was awarded the NY Sire Stakes Night of Champions event for next September. It will be the first time the Downs has hosted the Sire Stakes which will feature the best horses bred in NYS. The last 6 years it has been held in Yonkers. It consists of\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\/2018\/09\/BD-still.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/BD-still.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/BD-still.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":67256,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/08\/20\/genesee-county-burke-enters-chapter-seven-colts-in-108300-nyss-at-batavia-wednesday\/","url_meta":{"origin":64123,"position":2},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Burke enters Chapter Seven colts in $108,300 NYSS at Batavia Wednesday","author":"aka","date":"August 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs Gaming (Photo of AI by Mike Lizzi) Batavia, NY --- Hall of Fame trainer Ron Burke, who just scored his 16,000th\u00a0career victory at the Red Mile last Tuesday (Aug. 12), will be racing a pair of 2-year-old Chapter Seven colts - AI and Who\u2019s\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\/2025\/08\/AI-photo-by-Mike-Lizzi-1.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AI-photo-by-Mike-Lizzi-1.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AI-photo-by-Mike-Lizzi-1.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AI-photo-by-Mike-Lizzi-1.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":67552,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/08\/27\/genesee-county-sharp-seven-was-on-point-in-nyss-at-batavia\/","url_meta":{"origin":64123,"position":3},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Sharp Seven was on point in NYSS at Batavia","author":"aka","date":"August 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs Gaming (Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery) Batavia, NY --- The New York Sire Stakes visited Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 27) night with nine 2-year-old trotting fillies competing for a $112,100 purse and the heavily favored Sharp Seven (Chapter Seven-Lookin\u2019 Sharp) cut to\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\/2025\/08\/Sharp-Seven-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Sharp-Seven-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Sharp-Seven-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Sharp-Seven-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Sharp-Seven-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":66373,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/07\/25\/genesee-county-121800-up-for-grabs-in-the-new-york-sire-stakes-at-batavia-saturday\/","url_meta":{"origin":64123,"position":4},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/$121,800 up for grabs in the New York Sire Stakes at Batavia Saturday","author":"aka","date":"July 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs (Photo courtesy of Fotowon) Batavia, NY --- The New York Sire Stakes will make its first stop at Batavia Downs this year on Saturday (July 26) and the 3-year-old pacing fillies will be center stage during opening night of Batavia\u2019s 2025 season. Post time\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\/2025\/07\/The-Last-Martini-Photo-by-Fotowon.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Last-Martini-Photo-by-Fotowon.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Last-Martini-Photo-by-Fotowon.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Last-Martini-Photo-by-Fotowon.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45015,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2023\/07\/26\/genesee-county-batavia-downs-announces-visit-from-a-budweiser-clydesdale-on-kane-memorial-night\/","url_meta":{"origin":64123,"position":5},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Batavia Downs announces visit from a Budweiser Clydesdale on Kane Memorial Night","author":"aka","date":"July 26, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"On site visit will be August 26th\u00a0from 2-4pm Press release BATAVIA \u2013 Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced that one of the famous and iconic Budweiser Clydesdales will be making an appearance at Batavia Downs on Saturday, August 26th\u00a0from 2-4pm.\u00a0 A night of live harness racing, including the Kane\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image007-scaled.png?fit=2560%2C2132&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64123"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64123\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64137,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64123\/revisions\/64137"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64125"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}