by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY — Buffalo Raceway is in full preparation mode as the 2018 season gets into gear on Friday (Jan. 12) with a 5 p.m. post time. Opening weekend will continue on Saturday at 6 p.m. in kicking off the 88-day schedule which concludes on Saturday (July 21).

“Fans should once again expect some solid and exciting races this year,” Buffalo Raceway Operations Director Jon Cramer said of the upcoming campaign.

The harsh weather conditions in Western New York in the past few weeks hasn’t slowed down the half-mile oval from getting into racing shape.

“We put material down on the track in the fall,” Cramer said. “Track Superintendent Dave Dylo and his crew have been getting it ready the past week. Besides the track, they also have been busy removing snow from the barn areas.”

With the extremely frigid and snowy conditions recently, Cramer said its business as usual at the track located at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg. “It’s not the norm but it is Buffalo winter weather.”

Opening weekend will feature free programs on Friday evening along with $3 off the popular fish fry dinner while on Saturday night, customers get $3 off the home style turkey dinner in the Winner’s Circle Cafe.

The evening also will feature the return of the Lucky Exacta contest where patrons will receive a collectible Buffalo Raceway magnet with an exacta combination on the back of it. Should that exacta come in, winners will get to spin the wheel to collect up to $100 in free wagers. Also, all fans will get $10 in free play at Hamburg Gaming included with the magnet.

The Pick-5 wager will return with the sequence beginning in the second race each night. There’s a 50-cent minimum wager and should no one hit it, there will be a carryover into the next night’s card.

Buffalo Raceway has also instituted a new claiming rule for the 2018 season. Should a horse be claimed out of a race at Buffalo Raceway, that horse can only race at Buffalo Raceway until the end of the meet.

Post time on Wednesday and Friday evenings will be 5 p.m. with the start time on Saturday evenings at 6 p.m. There will be a special 7 p.m. post on May 5, May 19 and June 9 to accommodate the Triple Crown races. Sunday afternoon action will commence on June 17 with a 12:30 p.m. post.

The draw for opening night will be on Tuesday (Jan. 9).

For more information on Buffalo Raceway including the latest news, upcoming promotions, race replays and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.