Batavia, NY — Wednesday (Nov. 30) was ladies night at Batavia Downs with a top-heavy program of fillies and mares races who competed on a cold and blustery night. The featured $14,000 Open I Distaff Handicap was won by Shallow (Ray Fisher Jr.) who made her way back to Batavia last week after spending some time at The Spa. Shallow took the lead and after … Continue reading Shallow, Faithful Desire strike at Batavia Downs »

Batavia, NY — A pair of $14,000 Open I Handicap races were up for grabs on Saturday night (Nov. 26) at Batavia Downs and Jim Morrill Jr. was more than happy to take the top prize in each after he air mailed both of his mounts to impressive victories. In the trotting feature, Morrill launched Credit List from post eight and battled on the outside … Continue reading Morrill sweeps features; Monti wins five at Batavia »

Batavia, NY — For the second week in a row, The Stunning Nun N took on the best distaff competitors in western New York and came out victorious again in the $14,000 Open I Handicap pace for fillies and mares at Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening (Nov. 23). Shallow (Ray Fisher Jr.) grabbed the early lead but was overtaken by The Stunning Nun N (Jim … Continue reading The Stunning Nun N sports a winning habit at Batavia »

Batavia, NY — Western New York has been pummeled by lake effect snow for the past two days and extreme winter conditions are expected to continue through Sunday. With over six feet of snow already accumulated in some areas, an array of driving bans and road closures in place along with white-out conditions throughout the area, travel has been in some cases next to impossible. … Continue reading Live racing canceled at Batavia Downs Saturday night »

Batavia, NY — It was ladies night for Jim Morrill Jr. at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 16) as he swept the girls off their feet in the top two paces for fillies and mares that highlighted the evening of racing at the Genesee County track that operated under “snowglobe” conditions. First he took the $14,000 Open I Handicap with The Stunning Nun N ($3.40) … Continue reading Morrill sweeps Batavia features Wednesday »

Batavia, NY — Two red hot horses continued to roll at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Nov. 12) and they claimed both feature races while racking up their wins among the best there are on the grounds while the Downs leading driver, Kevin Cummings, extended his lead in the dash competition after winning five more races. First in the $14,000 Open I Handicap pace, Just … Continue reading Cummings wins five; streaking winners top Batavia card »

Batavia, NY — Success came in bunches for four horsemen and one horsewoman at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Nov. 9) as the five involved accounted for a total of 12 driving and 6 training wins during the card. The driving colony was once again bested by Jim Morrill Jr. who claimed a quintuple in the sulky, including winning one of the featured $10,000 conditioned … Continue reading Wins-a-plenty for five at Batavia Downs Wednesday »

Batavia, NY — It was Deja Vu all over again for last week’s feature winners Just Plain Loco and Credit List, who came right back on Saturday (Nov. 5) to claim another $14,000 Open Handicap on their respective gaits. First on the pace, Just Plain Loco (Dave McNeight III) got away sixth as Yankee On The Move (Kyle Cummings) led the field to the half … Continue reading Just Plain Loco, Credit List double-up at Batavia »

Batavia, NY — After going a very long mile, the hard-working Saulsbrook Olympia notched her second straight victory in the $14,000 Distaff Open Handicap at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Nov. 2). Somebeachsomefra (Jim Morrill Jr.) was the early leader and forced The Stunning Nun N (Ray Fisher Jr.) to abandon her desire for the front and tuck in second. The race hit the quarter … Continue reading Saulsbrook Olympia repeats in Batavia mare’s match »

Batavia, NY — Joseph C. Sarago of Cheektowaga, New York died on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at age 80. Mr. Sarago was a life-long fixture of harness racing at Batavia Downs and in western New York, having first gotten involved in the sport with a Standardbred named Choicey Williams that he owned through his aunt and uncle who raced back in the 1960’s. After first … Continue reading Joseph C. Sarago, 80, dies »