by Todd Haight, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — The 61st Summer-Fall meet at Batavia Downs Gaming continues on Saturday night (September 1) with a fine 11-race card put together by Racing Secretary Joe Zambito and his assistant, Ginny Rosenfeld. The Saturday card, which gets underway at 7:35 p.m., features four New York bred late closing events and the $10,000 featured Open Handicap Pace. Over $87,000 in purse money will be distributed.

Carded as race 10, the popular locally owned pacer, Michael Scores, headlines the weekly pacing feature. Michael Scores set the all-age track record last season when he won the historic track’s showcase event, the Robert J. Kane Memorial in 1:52.1. Prior to that, world champions Bret Hanover and Niatross held the Downs record.

Now 6-years-old, “Michael” is owned by Sandra Compton of East Bethany and trained by husband Jim. Kevin Cummings, who was in the sulky in the Kane Memorial, will sit behind the track record holder.

A homebred by former Batavia Downs pacer Held For Ransom, Michael Scores has earned over $436,000 lifetime. His fastest win of 1:50.4 came this season at Tioga Downs, a five-eighths-mile track.

A Downs tradition takes place on Labor Day, the annual Drivers’ Bike race. Eight harness racing drivers sit on a different kind of bike, an 18 speed, and race a quarter-mile. The bikes are then given away after the race to fans that correctly selected who would win. This year’s bike race will take place after the sixth race of the afternoon, approximately 2:30 p.m.

Since 1983, Batavia Downs drivers have been taking part in this fun event as part of the Labor Day festivities. Post time on Labor Day is 1:15 p.m.

A delicious chicken barbecue will also be available on Labor Day from 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m. in both the Paddock and upstairs Café for just $7.00.

In addition to live harness racing, Batavia Downs Gaming offers the best of simulcast action, fine food in the clubhouse, and video gaming. The gaming floor, which features 591 video gaming terminals, is open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. daily. For more information check out www.bataviadownsgaming.com.