Horsemen be advised that Batavia Downs will draw Wednesday (Oct. 4) for the two biggest overnight races of the year; the $15,000 Brian Schroeder Memorial Trot and the $15,000 George ‘Duke’ Dranichak Memorial Pace, which will both take place on Saturday (Oct. 7).
The Brian Schroeder Memorial Trot has been held annually for 10 years to commemorate one of the most successful western New York horsemen ever to race on the Grand Circuit.
Schroeder was a long-time trainer and driver who passed way after a lengthy illness in 2007 at the age of 67. His career was highlighted by starts in the 1993 Hambletonian with Collier St. Joey and the 1995 Breeders Crown with Financial Paige.
Other top trotters Schroeder raced throughout his career were Collier St Kathy, Top Trotter, Remind Me, Mykonos, Texas Café, Matched Pearls and Taylor T Collins.
The George ‘Duke’ Dranichak Memorial Pace was added this year to be an accompanying race for the laterally gaited.
George Dranichak was born and raised in Binghamton, NY and lived most of his life in Pavilion, NY. He graduated from Niagara University in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business. He became interested in harness racing and started his career working for then top trainer/driver on the circuit, Dick Welch. He would later become second-trainer for Bruce Tubin, who now serves as president of the Western New York Harness Horsemen’s Association.
When his career on the track came to a close, Dranichak became a patrol judge, then a presiding judge and ended up retiring from the New York State Racing and Wagering Board as the Director of Racing Officials for all the harness and thoroughbred tracks in the Empire State.
“In the history of Batavia Downs, Brian Schroeder and Duke Dranichak will always be considered local legends,” said Todd Haight, Director/General Manager of Live Racing at the Downs. “Their careers not only made impressions locally, but also in the National spotlight, and both for different reasons. The Downs is proud to be able to memorialize their respective careers and expose today’s generation of race fans to their impact on the sport.”
There will also be a Batavia Downs Gaming t-shirt giveaway that night. Racing fans may go to the Players Club starting at 4:30 p.m. to swipe their card and get a ticket redeemable for one shirt after the seventh race.
The Schroeder Trot will be carded as Race 5 and the Dranichak Pace will be carded as Race 7.
There is also a $10,000 Open Handicap pace on the condition sheet that may go three divisions if enough horses declare so there will be plenty of earnings opportunities for those shipping in.
The entry box will close on Wednesday (Oct. 4) at 9 a.m. You may call your entries in to race secretary Joe Zambito at 585-344-6304 or assistant race secretary Shane Hoehn at 585-344-6302.
(Batavia Downs)