July is upon us, and that means the return of pacers and trotters to Batavia Downs. Opening night is July 26

, which not only marks the 64th season of live harness racing at Americas 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 two and three-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 October 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 three-year-old New York Sire Stakes colt and gelding pacers, are set to race on Saturday, September 4. In 2009, the three-year-old pacers gave Kenneth Js 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 three-year-olds. Haight is optimistic that the same level of talent will be showcased this year as well.

September 18 marks a notable day in the 70-year history of Batavia, as the second largest (combined) stakes purses ever will be up for grabs when the two-year-old filly trotters and three-year-old colt trotters vie for estimated purses of $280,000. This figure is second only to Armbro Floris victory in the $286,756 Breeders Crown in 1988.

Another highly anticipated event in 2010 is the Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace, which carried a $40,000 purse in 2009. Scheduled for October 16, Haight believes that the timing is attractive for pacers that want to continue racing after the October 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 years 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.

(Batavia Downs)