by Todd Haight, marketing coordinator, Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — With the start of the 2008 live racing season just over a month away, Batavia Downs Gaming General Manager Michael D. Kane announced today that a new wagering format will be in place when the track opens for its 62nd year of live harness racing on July 28.

“We have added a second Pick-4 wager beginning on race two and a third Daily Double that will take place on races four and five,” Kane said. “It’s what our customers wanted so we made the change.”

The late Pick-4 will begin as usual on the seventh race.

Kane said the early Pick-4 replaces the Pick-3.

“We have seen a steady decline the last couple years in our Pick-3 pools and have had steady growth in the Pick-4,” Kane observed.

Once again the Downs will also offer four Superfectas nightly. This season the superfecta races will be three, six, eight and 11.

Racing secretary Joe Zambito expects to card 11 races nightly.

“We may add one (race) depending on the horse population when we go to a three-day-a-week race schedule after Labor Day,” Zambito said.

Zambito expects to see a very high quality of horse flesh at the Downs this summer.

“Every year the horses seem to get faster and if the weather cooperates there’s no question more track records will be broken,” he said.

Zambito added one of the reasons was because of the growing popularity of the New York Sire Stakes.

Batavia Downs Gaming will race Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays in August with the exception of Monday, August 25. That week a special August 24 Sunday matinee will be held. Evening post time will be 7:05 p.m. and matinee post time will be 1:15 p.m.