The Erie County Fairgrounds

4 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 8 THE ER I E COUNTY FA I RGROUNDS endless fun for families of all ages. The Erie County Fairgrounds complex is a 280- acre facility that includes an event center, a showplex, and a popular agricultural discovery center that comprises a building housing livestock and a building dedicated to equine competitive shows. Beyond what the Erie County Fair holds for visitors in August, a myriad of other events, educational activities, and experiences are offered throughout the year at the fairgrounds. “Our Fairgrounds is also home of the Buffalo Raceway, which runs Harness Racing through July,” says Jessica Underberg, CEO of the Erie County Fairgrounds. “This will be our 80th year of racing here,” Jon Cramer, Director of Operations for the Buffalo Raceway, highlights. “As for the racing operation, we have standardbred harness racing where the jockeys are in the sulkies in the car. It’s not riding the horses, but it’s a half-mile horse track.” Horse riding on the fairgrounds started in 1942 with parimutuel wagering in New York state. Averaging roughly 60 racing days from January through July, simulcast wagering is offered as well, allowing patrons to bet on other horse racing events such as the Kentucky Derby and other large Triple Crown events. Stables across the grounds house up to 200 horses throughout the racing season. The Fairgrounds doesn’t have a so-called “off- season.” According to Underberg, “We host our own Festival of Lights in the winters which became a drive-through during COVID. Coming back in 2022, we are able to bring back a walk- through event in the winter where kids can sit on Santa’s lap and see reindeer and engage in holiday themed family fun activities. The Festival of Lights runs the day after Thanksgiving through the 23rd of December.” The 12-day Erie County Fair, similar to the year- long educational offerings, also attracts an