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Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced a run of events from Labor Day through mid-October, combining live racing, themed entertainment and several ticketed promotions tied to Free Play or race wagers.
The Western New York venue’s schedule starts on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, with a special matinee at the races beginning at 12:15 p.m. The day also includes a Labor Day Drive Bike Race and a chicken barbecue priced at $30. According to the operator, that package includes a half chicken meal, a drink, $15 in Free Play and a $5 wager for that day’s races.
Batavia Downs President and CEO Byron Brown said the property is adding more events as summer winds down, describing the venue as an entertainment destination in Western New York.
September calendar includes cosplay day, concert and family event
One of the more unusual additions is Batavia Downs’ first cosplay race day on Saturday, Sept. 12. The event is aimed at anime fans, particularly those familiar with the Japanese “Pretty Derby” franchise, and will include cosplay contests and chances to learn how to wager on racing.
Vice President of Business Development Ryan Hasenauer said similar derby cosplay events have been used at other North American tracks to attract new visitors and introduce them to live racing.
The rest of the September schedule includes:
- Friday, Sept. 18: Jason Ostrowski performs a “Benny and the Rest” Elton John tribute at the Park Place Events Center.
- Sunday, Sept. 20: “Family Fun Day & Wiener Dog Races” returns, with face painting, balloon artists, pumpkin decorating, coloring, a magician and more. The wiener dog races start at 2 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 26: “Ciders, Seltzers and Sulkies” returns. A $30 ticket includes cider and seltzer samples and a $5 wager on that night’s races.
October events include Polka Buzz taping and breast cancer fundraiser
The calendar continues into October with WBBZ’s “Polka Buzz” taping several episodes inside the Park Place Room on Thursday, Oct. 1, featuring music from Crusade. Tickets are priced at $10 and include $10 back in Free Play.
On Saturday, Oct. 17, Batavia Downs will host the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester “Night at the Races,” a fundraiser supporting breast cancer research and support services. The $40 event includes a buffet, $25 in Free Play and a racing program, with a silent auction planned onsite.
Batavia Downs also said some events will be paired with hotel room deals, though specific terms were not included in the announcement.
The venue is operated by Western Region Off-Track Betting Corp., a public benefit corporation headquartered in Batavia. The organization says it operates Batavia Downs Gaming and eight branch locations and has generated more than $286 million in operating and surcharge revenues for participating municipalities since its inception.
For visitors planning to attend, the key dates to watch are Sept. 7 for the Labor Day matinee, Sept. 12 for the new cosplay race day and Oct. 17 for the charity racing event. As with any gaming-related promotion, guests should review event terms and gamble responsibly.
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Source: As reported by news.google.com.
