from Batavia Downs Casino

Batavia, NY — The 65th season of live harness racing at Batavia Downs Casino begins on Monday (July 25). The pacers and trotters will meet at America’s oldest lighted harness track for another 72 exciting race dates.

Post time remains at 6:40 p.m. for all evening races. Three matinees will take place on August 28, September 5 and October 10, each with a post time of 1:15 p.m. Back this year is a doubleheader on Labor Day, a Batavia Downs staple for many years.

Racing will be conducted on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday night basis with Tuedays replacing Mondays after Labor Day.

Opening night features New York Sires Stakes action with four divisions for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers and five divisons of 3-year-old trotting fillies. More than $275,000 in NYSS purse money will be up for grabs.

New this year are casino free play coupons in every Downs racing programs. Monday-Tuesday and Wednesday programs will contain a $5.00 free play coupon. Friday-Saturday-Sunday programs will offer a $2.00 coupon. On track guests will receive free racing programs on opening night.

Players club members enjoying the races in the track’s historic clubhouse will receive $2.00 off their dinner buffets simply by showing their players club cards and proper ID.

“We have always run all our promotions through Players Club,” Todd Haight, GM of live racing said. “We think this is another way of getting our gaming people involved in the races.”

The entire racing season will be broadcast via live streaming video at www.bataviadownscasino.com. The races had previously been seen on Time Warner Cable.

“It was really a difficult decision on which way to go but at the end of the day we thought we needed to get our races to the Buffalo market and with our streaming video we’re able to accomplish that. We have a huge number of Dial-a-Bet customers in Erie and Niagara counties and we’re pleased they now will be able to see our races live,” added Haight.

Live racing programs are always available for download free of charge at the same website address.

Also new this season are three guaranteed Pick-4 pools, part of the USTA Strategic Wagering program. On August 6, 13 and 20 the Pick-4 pools those nights will be guarenteed at $5,000. The Pick-4 begins on race two.

The amount of locations now taking the Batavia Downs signal has greatly increased with Arlington, Churchill Downs, the Fair Grounds, Hoosier Park, The Meadows, Oaklawn Park, Indiana Downs, the Meadowlands, Monmouth Park and Twinspires.com now receiving the Downs signal.

A complete list of promotions, which include the racing kickoff booklet full of free wagers, Old Fashioned Night, three $1,000 handicapping contests, a binocular giveaway, wiener dog races and more, can be found at www.bataviadownscasino.com.