The 69th live racing season at Batavia Downs wrapped up last Saturday (December 12) much the same way it kicked off back in July: with a packed house of fans watching the best racing in upstate New York.
The stellar calendar of stakes races provided those in attendance a great opportunity to see some of the best horses in New York State and a fair number of Grand Circuit players as well.
The New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) produced three record performances. The first was on Sunday (Aug. 30) when three-year-old pacing colt Betting Exchange (Bettors Delight-Cheeky Hanover) tied the track record of 1:51.2 for sex and gait in winning his division of the $120,400 NYSS event. This was the fastest pacing mile of the meet.
Then on Wednesday (Sept. 16), Dime A Dance (Roll With Joe-Hat Dance Hanover) took advantage of a lightning-fast track and 80 degree temperatures to set a new world’s record of 1:52.4 for two-year-old pacing fillies in winning her division of the $109,000 NYSS race. It (obviously) was also a new track record for Batavia Downs, smashing the old standard of 1:54.2.
The 13th renewal of Batavia Downs’ signature event, the $50,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace, took place on Saturday (Oct. 3) and one of the winningest horses in North America added his name to the roster of champions of that race. A seventeen-time winner in 2015, Atta Boy Dan (Western Terror-Dropitlikeitshot), paced his last quarter in :27.4 and pulled away to an easy win in 1:52.1.
The all-time pacing track record of 1:51.1 was not broken in that race, however track trotting history was made instead in the $12,500 Brian Schroeder Memorial the same night.
Top local trotting star Lutetium destroyed the field, at one point opening up a gap of as much as 15 lengths, before scooting home to a six-length victory in 1:55.2. The winning time broke the existing track record of 1:56 for aged trotting geldings set in 2014. The race was also the fastest trotting mile of the meet.
Kevin Cummings easily defended his driving title at Batavia by winning 134 times during the meet, far ahead of the rest of his competition. Those rounding out the top five included Dave McNeight III with 89 wins, Shawn McDonough with 82 wins, Jack Flanigen with 81 wins and Drew Monti with 73 wins.
JD Perrin also defended his training title by sending 57 horses to the winner’s circle. The competition behind him was decidedly closer and included James Clouser Jr. with 45 wins, Dave McNeight Jr. with 41 wins, Maria Rice with 34 wins and Kirk Desmond with 32 wins.
Cobble Beach (Artiscape-Mirmattculous 1:51.2 $176,867) was named pacer of the meet with six Open wins, $42,270 in earnings and a seasonal mark of 1:52.4.
Lutetium (Credit Winner-Luby 1:52.4 $356,617) was the trotter of the meet with six Open wins, $37,750 in earnings and a new track record of 1:55.2.
Memumsnotnice (Jeremes Jet-Bunny Town 1:51.4 $308,343) was named distaff performer of the meet with four Mares Open wins, $32,942 in earnings and a personal season's mark of 1:55.
The top three winningest post positions for the meet were Post 1 with 230 wins, Post 2 with 131 wins and Post 4 with 129 wins.
In 2015, the on-track handle took a dip of 5.4 per cent, or $1,263 a night. But the export handle was up a substantial 21.2 per cent, or $13,220 per night. Combined, the total handle was up a healthy 9.6 per cent, or $10,250 per night.
Batavia Downs paid out $5,438,400 in purses this year, up $208,400 over 2014.
There was no shortage of promotions for Batavia Downs customers this year as something special was going on during 31 nights of the season. Giveaways, contests and food specials dotted the schedule but the year featured four major happenings.
In August, Batavia hosted the annual wiener dog races, to the delight of thousands who gathered at the rail to see them. September included the Drew Monti bobblehead night, the annual Labour Day driver’s bike race and a special fundraiser for the family of Brad Hanners.
Then on Sunday (Nov. 15), Batavia Downs hosted the USTA District 8 membership meeting, director election and New York Sire Stakes year-end awards banquet, sponsored by the New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund.
"We couldn't be happier with the way things went this year" said Todd Haight, GM/Director of Live Racing at Batavia Downs. "We had outstanding weather the whole year; not one flake of snow. That facilitated many opportunities for our live crowd to come out and that they did."
"The product on the track was as good as it's ever been and the export numbers confirm that. A lot of people were betting the action at Batavia Downs at all the simulcast facilities that took our signal. The meet ended very strong," Haight concluded.
Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs in July of 2016; dates pending approval of the New York State Gaming Commission.
(Batavia Downs)