The 2024 harness racing season wrapped up at Batavia Downs last Saturday, Dec. 7 and that also closed the track’s books for the year. After all the paperwork was finalized, the bottom line showed that the business of harness racing at Batavia Downs is operating at a record pace.
The overall handle at Batavia Downs for both the winter and summer/fall meets came in at $16,826,483 USD, which is a 9.2 per cent increase over 2023 when total handle was $15,414,846 USD. This year’s handle was the highest recorded at the track since Western Regional Off Track Betting began running the racing operation in 2002.
That 9.2 per cent increase is quite notable on its merits alone, but it also stands out in the crowd in a year where the overall handle at harness tracks across North America is down a collective 6.66 per cent.
Don Hoover, the Director of Live Racing at Batavia Downs, was very satisfied with the results and was quick to mention everyone whose hard work made it happen.
“2024 was another record handle year for Batavia Downs and ended up surpassing our previous record set just last year," he stated. "Once again, it was a total team effort from the entire staff at Batavia Downs with special thanks going to the live racing staff, track maintenance, simulcast, group sales, marketing, track management and, of course, the horsemen and horsewomen who put on the show every night. They provided very competitive racing and proof of that was favourites winning only 44.5 per cent of the time, which rates among the lowest in the industry at any half-mile track in North America. Back-to-back record years is noteworthy, but so was the all time record $75,000 guaranteed pool we had on Nov. 13 that also produced a record payoff. Plus the track distributed over $7 million [USD] in overnight purses to our owners, trainers and drivers this year.”
There will be only a short amount of time for the track to sit on this year’s laurels as the break in the action at the Genesee County oval will be brief. Live harness racing returns to Batavia Downs on Monday, Jan. 6 for the start of the 15-day 2025 winter meet, the third consecutive overcoat session the track has hosted. Racing will be held every Monday and Thursday through Monday, Feb. 24 with all cards having a 3 p.m. post time.
(Batavia Downs)