Batavia: 2020 live racing season begins Wednesday

The 74th season of live harness racing at Batavia Downs kicks off on Wednesday (July 29) and opening night features some of the best horses on the grounds, including the Open filly and mare pacers and the Open class trotters. Post time for the first race is 5 p.m.

The Downs will conduct a 43-day meet in 2020 that for the first week will race on Wednesday (July 29) and Friday (July 31) before changing to a Wednesday/Saturday schedule for the remainder of the meet. Post time for Wednesday is 5 p.m. and Saturday is 6 p.m. Post time for Friday (July 31) is 5 p.m.

There are two special Sunday matinee cards that will be held on August 2 and August 9 when the New York Sire Stakes come to town. Those cards will feature all stakes races that will see the 2 and 3-year old trotting fillies compete on Sunday (Aug. 2) and the 2 and 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings go to the gate on Sunday (Aug. 9). Post time for both of these dates is 1:15 p.m.

The New York Sire Stakes will be the only stake races at the Downs this year as the track's signature race, the $50,000 Robert J. Kane Pace, will not be contested in 2020.

"We look forward to another exciting race meet," said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting, the owner of Batavia Downs. "During these difficult times, we've made a series of adjustments that we hope will lead to a successful season."

There will be no fans allowed to attend the races at this point due to ongoing concerns and New York State regulations surrounding the Coronavirus. However listed owners of horses in to go will be allowed on the track apron starting opening night as per New York State Gaming Commission regulations.

Listed owners must make a reservation to attend in advance and be put on a list that will allow them to enter. Reservations must be made 24-hours before race time by calling Mary Bucceri at 585.344.6144 or by e-mailing your request to mbucceri@westernotb.com. Listed owners who register will receive an e-mail confirmation. Security will only let in those who are on the list. There will be no food or beverage service available however owners may bring food, water or soft drinks in until the gaming floor opens.

On the track, all the local horsemen will be back including 2019 driving champion Billy Davis Jr., Jim Morrill Jr., Dave McNeight III, Drew Monti, Shawn McDonough and Ray Fisher Jr. On the training side, last year’s conditioning champ Jim Clouser Jr. brings his stable back along with Maria Rice, Gerry Sarama, Mike Ohol and Ryan Swift.

"This is definitely going to be a different year for us," said Todd Haight, Director/General Manager of Live Racing at Batavia Downs. "Without fans allowed in the stands, we won't have any promotions this year like our traditional dollar hot dog and draft days, Family Fun days including the wiener dog races, nightly giveaways and our Labor Day driver's bike race that goes back to 1978. Right now we are happy that the horsemen can continue to work and hope that with constantly improving Covid test numbers in the state, we may welcome back our guests at some point before the meet ends."

The 2020 meet runs through Saturday (Dec. 12).

-edited release (Tim Bojarski for Batavia)