Latham, NY --- In the past two years five dilapidated, old barns at Buffalo Raceway have been replaced with five brand new, gleaming barns.
Major repairs to the other existing barns include fresh paint, new roofs, stall repairs and a complete refurbishing of an older barn have taken place. The entire stable area has been covered with fresh blacktop. Ongoing drainage issues were addressed and repairs made to eliminate water runoff problems.
The track racing surface has been improved with what Dave Dylo, track superintendent calls, “The best material he has seen in many years.”
In addition, just recently, new state of the art lights have been installed through the entire homestretch. This work followed the building of the new paddock that opened in 2006, a project that was headed by general contractor, Peter Arrigenna, who also serves as the vice president of the Harness Horse Breeders of New York and who is a Western New York native.
“It is absolutely incredible to see the improvements made at Buffalo Raceway the past few years,” Arrigenna said. “It is one of the very few harness tracks in the country that has improved its stable area, which is now one of the finest in the country.”
Buffalo Raceway has also improved the patrons’ areas of the facility. Renovations were made in the clubhouse and grandstand, including the building of six new boxes, adding new televisions -- with the most obvious change being a brand new video and sound system featuring new graphics and speakers throughout the entire racing plant, complementing the addition of popular announcer, Gabe Prewitt, a native of Kentucky, who had been calling races at The Red Mile in Lexington for the past eight years.
A two percent players reward program continues to be well received in the clubhouse. The results have been good with Buffalo Raceway’s handle increasing by more than 60 percent, nationwide since 2011.
“The horsemen have been the beneficiaries of these changes, including increased racing days and higher overnight purses,” Arrigenna saod. “Everyone is excited about the changes and how they are treated when visiting Buffalo.”
While Buffalo Raceway management takes their commitment to the local horsemen and patrons seriously, its overall support to the statewide harness racing industry is especially noteworthy.
Buffalo Raceway works in conjunction with the Western N.Y. Horsemen’s Association, Batavia Downs and the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund to co-sponsor scholarship races to provide funds for ongoing educational opportunities to high school seniors.
While participating in the scholarship races the students are also exposed to the Standardbred racing industry and learn how to care for racehorses. They are also taught to drive the horses and then compete against each other in a race for the scholarship money.
Buffalo Raceway has also supported the New York Sire Stakes County Fair program by providing much needed saddle pads for the entire statewide fair races.
Buffalo Raceway also works to promote the harness horse racing industry by providing promotional giveaways and information about the New York breeding program.
With tracks such as Buffalo Raceway, New York State will continue to be the premier place to race.
So, with the start of the New York Sire Stakes rescheduled because of sickness and a state-imposed quarantine, it only seems fitting for the season to begin at Buffalo Raceway.
In race eight this Saturday evening, Summertime Lea, the 2012 New York Sire Stakes champion 2-year-old pacing filly, will start her 2013 New York Sire Stakes campaign, seeking to become a repeat champion. If she can prevail she will be one of a select few to retain their form over two years. In 2012 Summertime Lea (by Lislea) had nine starts, finishing first in eight of them and second in the other. She will start from the rail.
Ballineen appears to be the most serious threat to Summertime Lea’s attempt to retain her position. In her last eight starts she has not finished worse than third; Ballineen will leave from post No. 4.
Park N Orchard will start from post No. 7, fresh off of a 1:55.3 qualifying effort, and Bettor Think Twice will depart post No. 5 and already has two wins in two starts.
Race four, another New York Sire Stakes, is deep in talent. Three of the eight entries competed in the 2012 New York Sire Stakes Finals.
Brussels Hanover (Bettors Delight) finished second to Summertime Lea in the 2012 final and amassed earnings of $143,647.
Hit The Curb (Art Major), another talented filly, earned $160,000 last year for W. Springtime Stable. She appeared to tire late in 2012 but will return fresh here.
Silk Pajama’s also raced in the 2012 New York Sire Stakes Final and earned $90,000 for co-owners, C.E. Zurich, E.J. Gold and Purple Haze Stables LLC. She will start from post No. 3.
Purple Haze Stables is due for another good one; will Silk Pajama’s be the one?
Cheyenne Miriam (Bettor’s Delight) has blasted into 2013 and looks to be the one to beat in the first New York Sire Stakes race of the night.
Spell To Cast (American Ideal) raced respectably last year and Linda Toscanoalways bri