Batavia Downs

Batavia Downs is a harness racing track/racino in Batavia, New York. It is located in Genesee County between Buffalo and Rochester just off of the New York State Thruway, the I-90. It opened on September 20, 1940, and is the oldest lighted harness racetrack in the United States. The track is exactly 1/2 mile long. Batavia Downs Gaming has more than 600 slot machines on the gaming floor.

History

In 1939, William "Lefty" Goldberg and others chose Batavia, halfway between Buffalo and Rochester, for par-mutuel wagering on horse races. Harold Wishman, William Zimmer, Arthur Martin and Frederick Strohm were stockholders in the Monroe-Genesee Breeders Association, a predecessor to the Genesee-Monroe Racing Association, which rented the Genesee County Fairgrounds for racing.

1940s

In 1940, Batavia Downs opened pari-mutuel racing at 8:20 PM on September 20, 1940. Crowds of more than 2,500 attended and $10,411 was wagered on the first card.

In 1941, Batavia Downs opened to an estimated crowd of about $4,000 and a handle of $20,231. Track lighting was improved.

The season was cancelled in 1942 and 1943 because of war travel restrictions. In 1944, Pat E. Provenzano borrowed money and bought out stockholder William Weisman, a New York City attorney, for $15,000. Provenzano was elected president of the Genesee Monroe Racing Association. In 1947, Provenzano purchased the racetrack property for $150,000 after the Genesee County Agricultural Society's fair association went bankrupt. Proximity set the then-track record of 2:04. In 1948 she broke her own time record with a time of 1:59 3/5.

1950s

In 1959, Bye Bye Byrd beat Tar Boy and equaled the world record for a half-mile track, 159.2. Attendance for this race was 9,633.

1960s

In 1962, a fire devastated the stables, killing a caretaker, 26 horses, and causing an estimated $625,000 in damages, not including lost revenues. The Downs underwent extensive renovations to prevent fires. In 1963, Batavia Downs welcomed its eight millionth visitor. In 1964, the grandstand was enclosed in glass.

In 1966, Bret Hanover down under Cardigan Bay set a track record of 1:58.1. Batavia Downs enjoyed its biggest crowd at the time, as 15,228 came to watch and wagered $515,334.

In 1968, Downs General Manager Herm Grannis was elected president of Harness Tracks of America, where he established the Harness Tracks Security. In 1970, Batavia Downs was honored by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce for spreading the name and fame of Batavia all over the United States.

1970s

In 1972, New York State legislation created off-track betting to bail New York City out of near bankruptcy.

In 1973, the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation was formed.

Batavia Downs and Buffalo Raceway changed operations in 1975 to a single season from the split-season racing. Pat Provenzano, long time president of the Downs, and John O. Marra, Executive Vice-President, were indicted for alleged tax evasion charges in 1976. Provenzano pleads no contest and was fined $10,000. Provenzano died the next year on September 9 at age 76. In 1977, Double-Gaited Excalibur, owned by Batavia driver, Fred Haslip and driven by Elba farmer Paul Zambito, Jr. set a world record. He both trotted and paced a time of 2:03 3/5 miles for a total of 4:07 1/5, breaking a world record set in 1939.

1980s

In 1980, Niatross set a track record of 1:55 before a crowd of 9,915. One year later, Niatross set an all-age world record for pacers on a half-mile track. That year, he lost only two of his 26 starts. Barbara H. Provenzano, Pat's widow, bought out other non-family stockholders in 1981. She served as chairwoman of the board until her death in 1990. The Pat E. Provenzano Memorial Trot was inaugurated in 1984. The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce honored Batavia Downs in 1987 for making a major impact on the region's economy. In 1988, Ambro Flori won the only Breeders' Crown ever held at Batavia Downs. The purse was $286,756 (largest purse at Batavia Downs).

1990s

In 1993, Earl won the Provenzano Trot and broke the all-aged trotting record in 1:56. Later that year, Getting Personal won the New York Sire Stake event and broke the track record 1:53.3. In 1994, Batavia Downs became the first track in New York history to have its license revoked by racing authorities. This was due to a contract dispute with horseman. [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-879859.html Washington Post Article Regarding Revoking of License (1994)] ] In 1997, the track held a shorter meet, only 28 days. Live racing ended. In 1998, Western OTB bought the track for $2.48 million. The next year, Western OTB and Buffalo Raceway officials agreed that the Erie County track would support Western's bid to obtain a racing license, in exchange for Western paying an annual sum for five years.

2000s

In 2000, opposition from other racetracks in the state and a leadership battle in the State Assembly prevented legislation from being passed to allow Off-Track Betting Corporation (OTB) to run a track.

In 2001, simulcasting opened under direction of OTB. That same year, a bill passed allowing Western OTB to apply for a harness racing license. Batavia Downs reopened on July 29, 2002 under the direction of Western OTB with over $10 million in renovations. It welcomed over 6,000 in attendance. Later that year the first ever Robert J. Kane Memorial pace was held and won by Mattarocket.

Highlights of the 2007 season include: [ [http://m.democratandchronicle.com/news.jsp?key=56725 Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester Newspaper) Article on Breast Cancer Fundraiser] ]

* Yonkers invader Slickest Hanover won the 5th annual Robert J. Kane Memorial in 1:54.1
* In conjunction with the first-ever visit of the Mildred Williams Lady Driving Series at Batavia Downs Gaming, more than $10,000 was raised for breast cancer research in August.
* The largest attendance at the track in the 2007 season was for a memorial race, which commemorated the great Albatross’s visit to the track. The race was remembered as the “Dream Pace”, in 1972 and was a showdown of the world’s greatest pacers at Batavia Downs.
* JD's Dragon won ten times during summer-fall meet and was named horse of the year.
* Keith Kash Jr. won the first ever Batavia Downs leading driver and trainer title.

Batavia Downs Gaming

In 2001, the New York State Legislature passed a bill to allow New York State racetracks to have Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) inside the racetracks, making them “Racinos”. [ [http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=27649 WGRZ (News 2 in Buffalo) Article about State VLT Regulations (2005)] ]

Batavia’s Video Lottery era began on May 18, 2005. Over 5,000 people attended opening night.

Popular culture

A 2007 episode of "The Sopranos" titled "Chasing It" mentions the Batavia Downs Racetrack. Tony Soprano is in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and bets on a horse running at Batavia Downs named "Meadow's Gold." His daughter's name is Meadow.

The one-minute scene shows Tony and his crew watching the race being simulcast from Batavia Downs, with the track's logo in the corner of the screen.

Batavia Downs supplied the show with footage of past races. One of their announcers, Joe Zambito, calls the race featured in the show.

HBO told them the track was selected because someone who works on the show was from western New York and had fond memories of going to the track as a kid.

Batavia Downs planned a special event around the broadcast, showing the episode in the clubhouse and inviting former Sopranos actor Joe Gannascoli, who played the character Vito Spatafore. He appeared at the Batavia Downs Clubhouse for the episode's broadcast. [ [http://159.54.226.29/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=47558 WGRZ (News 2 in Buffalo) Article about Sopranos Episode (2007)] ]

References

* [http://www.batavia-downs.com/BataviaDowns/History/ REF 1 All Batavia Downs history/information courtesy of Batavia Downs Website]
* [http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071219/NEWS01/712190359 REF 6 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Article on WNY Gaming(2007)]