Considering the magnitude of the highlights from the 2013 racing season, what exactly does Batavia Downs Gaming do for an encore in 2014?
Meet the challenge, says Todd Haight, Batavia Downs’ general manager of live racing.
But for now, in the wake of closing night 2013, they’ll savour the triumphs of the recently concluded live season at America’s oldest lighted harness track:
- The world’s richest pacer, Foiled Again, paid a visit on October 5 and won the 11th annual Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace. Two weeks later, Foiled Again won the Breeders Crown Open Pace at Pocono Downs. This year’s 'Kane' night handle was the largest since 2005.
- Export handle took another big jump.
- A state-of-the-art gaming floor opened in October.
- Five new track records were established while two others were tied.
- Shawn McDonough became the first provisional driver ever to win a track driving championship, and he did it in style, outdistancing Ray Fisher Jr. 103-88.
The final total mutuel handle on Batavia races increased again, climbing by over $660,000, or 9 pre cent over last year. Export handle, coming off a 50 per cent increase in 2012, was up another 19 per cent this season, though the on-track handle dipped 15 per cent.
"We knew it was going to be a tough year on-track with construction of the new gaming floor taking place as our live season was starting,” Haight said. “In fact, we had two days in early October that we raced with no on-track wagering at all. The on-track numbers improved significantly once the gaming floor moved downstairs on October 4.
“So we’re extremely pleased that we continue to grow our export business and I'm confident we can turn around our on-track numbers next season.”
Haight noted that the ITW (Inter-Track Wagering facility) will moving back to the racetrack before the live season gets underway, so Batavia will once again be able to conduct some of its most popular promotions that it wasn't able to do this year.
There were many highlights away from the betting windows, too (highlights appear below).
The western New York harness racing community showed it is truly caring, as $12,885 was raised for the ‘Stay Strong Anthony Coletta’ fund in early December. Coletta was seriously injured in a racing mishap in mid-November at Harrah's Philadelphia, so Batavia Downs drivers, owners, trainers, staff and fans donated to help out the 31-year-old driver in his recovery.
Of the new records, two were set by pacers. Xenia Hanover posted a 1:53 time to set the aged mares record and Barefoot Beauty won in 1:54.4 to set the two-year-old pacing filly mark. Two-year-old colt sensation Hes Watching won in 1:54.2 to tie the record.
Fireyourguns was named the Pacer of the Year.
Mystical Escapade, Batavia Downs' Trotter of the Year, set the aged mare mark with a 1:56.3 mile, while Lutetium set the aged gelding mark with a 1:56.3 clocking. JS Trotting Bob, a two-year-old colt, got his name into the record book with a 1:58.2 clocking. Bouncing Bax tied the three-year-old trotting filly mark with a 1:57.2 effort.
While McDonough won the driving title, Ron Beback Jr. was victorious 84 times and won the comeback award.
John Mungillo, the Western New York Trainer of the Year, won his first Batavia training title. He totaled 66 victories, nine more than J.D. Perrin. Carl Smith finished third with 37 wins.
Extreme Balance, with driver Jack Flanigen, pulled one of the biggest upsets in Batavia history when he scored at odds 168-1. The Jim Graham trainee returned $338 to Win. Post-time favourites won at a 40-per-cent clip.
The 2014 racing season is tentatively scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 23, pending approval of the New York Gaming Commission.
(Batavia Downs)