Batavia: Changes in store for return of live racing on Wednesday

The 2022 harness racing season will get underway at Batavia Downs at 6 p.m. on Wednesday (July 20) and when fans enter the property, they will notice the staff and facilities have undergone some major changes. Those started at the top and touched every aspect of the racing program in order to provide a positive and enjoyable experience for everyone this year.

Don Hoover has joined the Downs team and will serve in two positions. He is the Director of Live Racing and also the track's new Race Secretary. Hoover is a western New York native who has extensive harness racing experience both as a horseman and on the administrative side. He has been on site at Batavia since early spring getting acquainted with his new positions and preparing for opening night.

"I am very excited about the upcoming 56 day live race meet here at Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel. Henry (Wojtaszek, President and CEO of Batavia Downs Gaming) and Scott (Kiedrowski, Vice-President of Operations at Batavia Downs Gaming) have provided me with a great team to work with and I feel that we have all the pieces in place for an outstanding year. Obviously the highlight of the meet will be August 26 when we host two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes going for a total of $206,000 and the Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace with an enhanced purse of $75,000. I can't wait to welcome the fans in for the opening night card," said Hoover.

The track itself has been completely re-graded and resurfaced with the best material available, all done under the supervision of track guru Kim Crawford. Crawford had the Genesee County oval lightning fast last year and it was widely hailed by visiting horsemen as one of the best surfaces to race over in New York state.

This year's schedule starts with a Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday rotation that will run through the end of August. There is one special card on Friday (Aug. 26) featuring two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes and Batavia Down's signature stake, the $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace. Post time for the six Sundays is 1:15 p.m. and all Wednesdays, Saturdays and the Friday are at 6 p.m.

The schedule changes in September to Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with two exceptions. There is a special Labor Day matinee on Monday (Sept. 5) at 1:15 p.m. and no racing on Friday (Sept. 9). Again all post times (except Labor Day) are at 6 p.m. In October only the first Friday of the month will be raced and then it will be Wednesday and Saturday until the meet ends on December 17. All post times will be at 6 p.m. except Saturday (Nov. 5) which has a special 3:15 p.m. start due to the Breeders Cup.

All eight divisions of the New York Sire Stakes will be contested at the Downs this year and those eligible horses will compete for an estimated $784,000 in purses. Plus the NYSS Excel "A" and "B" series will also be held on those nights, driving that purse value even higher. The stakes will be in town on Wednesday July 20, July 27, August 3, August 10, August 17, Friday August 26 (when two divisions will go along with the $75,000 Kane Memorial) and Wednesday August 31.

There is a mandatory payout of an $1,188 carryover on the Jackpot Pick-6 in race 5 on opening night.

For more information and updates all year, follow Batavia Downs Racetrack on Facebook or log onto the website at bataviadownsgaming.com.

-edited release (Tim Bojarski for Batavia)