Batavia Downs
Location	Batavia, New York
Coordinates	43°0′34.92″N78°12′18.22″W / 43.0097000°N 78.2050611°WCoordinates: 43°0′34.92″N78°12′18.22″W / 43.0097000°N 78.2050611°W
Owned by	Western OTB
Date opened	September 20, 1940
Race type	Harness Racing
Official website

Joel Weiss, of Clarence, shared a magical night with his mom at Batavia Downs racetrack. I grew up in Rochester in the 1950s and ’60s, the product of two loving parents. More than occasionally my mom and dad would drive to Batavia Downs for a night of entertainment and gambling. Conveniently located off New York State Thruway Exit 48, Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel is the area’s premier entertainment destination. Enjoy gaming, shopping, dining, and live racing daily from 7:00 a.m. In our non-stop-fun atmosphere. Press release: Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced the lineup for their third annual Rockin’ the Downs concert series, which take place outside on the racetrack, with eight consecutive Friday dates, starting in June and running into August. Kicking off the series on Friday, June 21st is Grammy Award-winning rock band Survivor. Best known for the double-platinum-certified song 'Eye of. Watching the Kentucky Derby at Batavia Downs was a lot of fun. The Derby $20 meal of Chicken BBQ was dry & a little burned. Potato salad is out of a box & Brownies packaged by Sara Lee. Fortune's Restaurant has a very nice menu! They have pizza and full dinners.

Batavia Downs is a harness racingtrack and casino in Batavia, New York. It is located in Genesee County between Buffalo and Rochester just off of the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90). It opened on September 20, 1940, and is the oldest lighted harness racetrack in the United States. The track is exactly .5 miles (0.80 km) long.

In terms of laws that are going to affect the individual gambler. The legal gambling age in New York is 18+ years of age. However, many gambling locations have limited their customers to 21+ so that they can legally serve alcohol on the game room floor without having to worry too much.

History[edit]

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[edit]

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. Trex 313 poker game. 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[edit]

In 1959, Bye Bye Byrd beat Tar Boy and equaled the world record for a half-mile track, 159.2. 7 slots on jeep grill. Desert diamond casino agave restaurant. Attendance for this race was 9,633.

1960s[edit]

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[edit]

In 1970, Batavia Downs honored by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce for spreading the name and fame of Batavia all over the United States

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, longtime 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[edit]

In 1980, Niatross set a track record of 1:55 before a crowd of 9,915. Later that year, 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[edit]

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.^[1]

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[edit]

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.

Batavia Downs hired the youngest Racing Secretary in the country when they hired local Elba man Joe Zambito who was only 29 years old at the time. Mr.Zambito was al

Batavia Downs Gambling Age