Officials with Batavia Downs have announced that stall applications for the 69th season of live harness racing at the track are now available.
The applications are available on the track’s website or can be picked up in person at the second-floor reception desk.
For the convenience of western New York horsemen who are currently racing at Buffalo Raceway, these applications are also available at the Western New York Harness Horsemen’s Association office located on the backstretch of that track.
The 2015 Batavia Downs season features 70 race dates and includes eight matinee cards. The annual summer-fall meet commences on Monday, July 27 and concludes on Saturday, December 12.
Live racing will be presented on a Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night basis, except for Saturday, October 31 (Breeders’ Cup day) when racing will be conducted at 1:15 p.m.
Aside from that three-day rotation, five Sunday afternoon programs will be held, beginning on August 2 and continuing through the end of the month.
Monday racing includes opening night and holiday programs on Labour Day and Columbus Day. Tuesday racing begins September 15.
The season begins with evening post times of 6:35 p.m. and matinee post times of 1:15 p.m.
New this year, Tuesday post time moves to 4:30 p.m. while beginning on October 21 all evening programs for the remainder of the season go off at 6:15 p.m., with an anticipated extra race each night being carded.
Stall applications can be mailed to the race office at 8315 Park Road, Batavia, NY 14020, Attn: Joe Zambito or faxed to 585-343-2451. All stall requests must be received by July 10.
The backstretch opens for tack on July 19. Horses may begin arriving in the barn area on July 21.
For more information please contact the track’s director/GM of racing, Todd Haight, at 585-343-3750 (Ext. 322).
(With files from Batavia)