Batavia Downs
Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57
Batavia Downs 8315 Park Road Batavia, NY 14020
Year Opened: 1940
Batavia, Batavia
Batavia Downs is a harness racetrack and casino located halfway between Rochester and Buffalo in New York State. It opened in 1940 and is the oldest lighted horse track in the US.
Food & Beverage 4
Batavia Downs has two main options for food and drinks when you visit – the first option is a quick service eatery on the first level, while the second is a full-on sit-down restaurant overlooking the track, located on the upper level. The quick service eatery offers pizza, burgers, fresh-made or grab-and-go sandwiches, salads, and hot dogs, as well as a few sides (soup, French fries, etc.) and a few dessert options. The prices are a little on the high side, but the portion sizes are solid. This eatery is a great option if you want something in a hurry, or if you don’t want to spend as much as you would on the upper level.
The upper-level restaurant has a full menu, but sometimes offers a buffet-style meal, especially when the nearby Buffalo Bills have a game that weekend, in which case the buffet will likely be more tailgate themed, with items such as sliders and wings.
Atmosphere 3
The atmosphere at Batavia Downs is low key, but compared to a lot of horse tracks this one is a bit cleaner and not what one might consider seedy. The upper-level restaurant offers a more refined way to watch the ponies, including table service, tall picture windows, and dedicated tellers and betting machines for you to place your wagers. The other half of the upper level has plastic bucket-style grandstand seating and the same view as the restaurant, but without the food and table service.
The quick service eatery on the first level is trackside, just seconds away from the railing, if you prefer to quickly step outdoors to watch the horses up close during each race, before ducking back inside to place your bets.
Neighborhood 2
There is not much in Batavia, New York besides the horse track and casino, although there is a hotel connected to the track if you prefer to stay on site. There are a few other restaurants and hotels in the area, of course, but all together this is rural upstate New York. You will likely have to travel about 45 minutes to Buffalo (west) or Rochester (east) to find any big city-type attractions.
While not close, Niagara Falls is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area, especially if you have never been. The Canadian side generally offers much more impressive views than the U.S. side does, but on the American side you can walk right along the river and stand within 5 feet of the rushing water.
Fans 2
Very few fans show up at Batavia Downs for a typical day at the races, so you may see the place seeming pretty deserted. As always the loudest “crowd noise” happens near the end of each race, with patrons either yelling their favorite home or cursing the horse that is running a bit too slow, or who gets caught on the line.
Access 4
Except for being out in the middle of nowhere, access to Batavia Downs is as good as you can expect. The track is right off I-90, and you can park right next to the building even if you are running late. They even have valet parking if you prefer.
Once inside there is plenty of room to move around, more than enough bathrooms, and more than enough tellers and betting machines. Most of this is due to the small crowd sizes, but on the plus side, lines are super short or non-existent.
Return on Investment 5
I can definitely see myself returning to Batavia Downs if I am in upstate New York again. It was a pleasant, low-key experience with not a lot of crowds to fight, and some decent pool sizes for wagers. Bets are also not too expensive, and the staff was helpful and polite. All in all I had a very pleasant time watching the ponies here.
Extras 3
The upper-level restaurant has some very nice seating, almost living room-esque in places with couches, side chairs, coffee tables, and lamps on end tables. There are also a couple of simulcast viewing areas on site, which you can visit if you want to wager on or see the action happening at other tracks. There is also a casino attached to the track.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t the best horse track I have ever been to, but it is also far from the worst. If you like horse racing, or have never seen it, and you are in the upstate New York area, I think Batavia Downs is worth a visit – would make a great, creative date night with your partner, or a fun family outing with the kids. Best of luck on your wagers, and as always, be sure to gamble responsibly.
