July is upon us, and that means the return of pacers and trotters to Batavia Downs Casino.
Opening night is July 26, which not only marks the 64th season of live harness racing at America’s Oldest Lighted Harness Track, but a newly expanded stakes schedule.
Batavia is doubling the number of New York Sire Stakes contests it will offer as compared to 2009 and is adding the County Fair Finals for 2- and 3-year-old pacers and trotters.
The 2010 Batavia Downs Casino stakes schedule boasts combined purses in excess of $1 million. Stakes racing culminates with the eighth annual Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace on Oct. 16.
“We are thrilled to see an expanded stakes schedule for 2010,” said Todd Haight, track analyst for Batavia Downs Casino. “I’m confident the New York bred pacers and trotters will bring as much excitement and as many fast miles for our patrons this year as they did in 2009.”
In all, there will be eight New York Sire Stakes and seven New York Late Closers throughout July, August and September at Batavia Downs Casino.
The glamour division, the 3-year-old New York Sire Stakes colt and gelding pacers, are set to race on Saturday, Sept. 4. In 2009, the 3-year-old pacers gave Kenneth J’s all-age track record of 1:52 a scare when Jim Morrill Jr., with OK Braveheart, Handsome Harry, and Hypnotic Blue Chip each did the mile in a sizzling 1:52.2, 1:53 and 1:52.3, respectively. OK Braveheart’s 1:52.2 mile established a new track record for 3-year-olds.
Haight is optimistic that the same level of talent will be showcased this year as well.
Sept. 18 marks a notable day in the 70-year history of Batavia Downs, as the second largest (combined) stakes purses ever will be up for grabs when the 2-year-old filly trotters and 3-year-old colt trotters vie for estimated purses of $280,000. This figure is second only to Armbro Flori’s victory in the Breeders Crown in 1988, which boasted a purse of $286,756.
Another highly anticipated event this year is the Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace, which carried a $40,000 purse in 2009. Scheduled for Oct. 16, Haight believes that the timing is attractive for pacers that want to continue racing after the Oct. 9 Breeders Crown.
“Scheduling the Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace a week after the Breeders Crown could be an attractive option for many of the best horses in all of harness racing,” Haight said.
Last year’s winner, Foiled Again, one of the top pacers in the sport, cruised around the Downs oval in 1:52.3. Matt Kakaley was in the sulky for trainer Ron Burke <http://fanguide.ustrotting.com/dt_stars_profiles.cfm?id=133792>.
For the complete Batavia Downs stakes schedule, visit www.bataviadownscasino.com <http://www.bataviadownscasino.com/>.
