By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA Little Batavia Downs Gaming will be on the state's biggest harness racing stage when the New York Sire Stakes series brings the 2019 Night of Champions to Genesee County next fall. The Night of Champions features the eight division championship races for 2- and 3-year-old Sire Stakes competitors, with a total purse of $1.8 million. Add in five top-notch … [Read more...] about Batavia Downs lands New York’s biggest night of harness racing
Horse Racing
No more passing lane when Batavia Downs opens Monday
By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA When racing returns to Batavia Downs Gaming on Monday night with the first of two consecutive stakes-jammed race programs, one noticeable fixture of the track will be missing: The passing lane. The inside swath of race track that allowed horses to scoot up the inside in the stretch has been eliminated in hopes of creating more active and competitive … [Read more...] about No more passing lane when Batavia Downs opens Monday
Belmont picks: Sure, Justify can win, but so can a few others
By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA Before Justify had even been draped with the viking poms blanket in the winner's circle at Pimlico Race Course, I vowed I'd be playing any logical contender in Belmont Stakes before I'd play the Derby and Preakness winner. Now, on the eve of the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes, I'm not so sure I can follow through on that plan. Who's good enough … [Read more...] about Belmont picks: Sure, Justify can win, but so can a few others
Kentucky Derby picks: Hoping Good Magic brings good luck
By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA Analytics have taken over sports, changing the way coaches coach, the way managers manage and the way personnel executives construct a roster. Number crunching has proven that over a 162-game baseball schedule, it's OK to swing hard and strive for extreme launch angle. Swinging for the home run is just fine; strikeouts really aren't all that … [Read more...] about Kentucky Derby picks: Hoping Good Magic brings good luck
Closing weekend SPHPs at Batavia, plus Friday Big M
By Kevin Oklobzija The final Spot Play Hot Plays of the 2017 Batavia Downs season, plus some Friday and Saturday Meadowlands plays. Friday at Batavia Downs Race 1 No. 5 Warrawee Qually (3-1 morning line). Ray Fisher's choice of four, and there are only six the field. I've got to believe start three up from Pocono Downs will be better than the first two, … [Read more...] about Closing weekend SPHPs at Batavia, plus Friday Big M