Batavia Downs Gaming announces 2008 stakes schedule

by Jeff Rizzo, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — The 2008 racing season at Batavia Downs Gaming is set to begin on July 28 and run through December 6. This year marks the 62nd racing season at America’s oldest lighted harness track, where racing officially began on September 20, 1940.

Racing will be conducted on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and one Sunday matinee. Evening post time will be 7:05 p.m. Matinees will take place on August 24 and September 1 (Labor Day) with post time at 1:15 p.m.

The 2008 stakes season kicks off on August 2 when the 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers roll into town to compete in a New York Sire Stakes event. Back in 2006 Forensic Z Tam, with Patrick Lachance driving, lowered the Downs track record for 2-year-old male pacers by winning in 1:55.2.

The showcase event of the Batavia Downs Gaming season is the Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace. In 2006, Michael Scores set the all-age track record of 1:52.1 in the Kane Memorial Pace.

According to track analyst Todd Haight, this racing season is expected to be excellent: “Our racing fans were treated to some mighty fast miles when the 2-year-olds were here back in 2006 and I expect this summer to be no different.”

Listed below is the entire 2008 stakes schedule.

August 2-$175,000 NYSS-2-year-old colt pace
August 8-$10,000 Late Closer-3-year-old colt pace
August 20-$10,000 Late Closer-3-year-old colt trot
August 22-$10,000 Late Closer-2-year-old colt pace
September 3-$175,000 NYSS-2-year-old filly trot
September 5-$175,000 NYSS-2-year-old colt trot
September 6-$175,000 NYSS-2-year-old filly pace
September 12-$10,000 Late Closer-3-year-old filly pace
September 17-$10,000 Late Closer-3-year-old filly trot
September 20-$10,000 Late Closer-2-year-old filly pace
September 27-$25,000 Late Closer Final-3-year-old colt pace
September 27-$25,000 Late Closer Final-3-year-old filly pace
October 4-$40,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace-Open Pace

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