A drag race unlike any other will highlight an especially colourful night of horse racing on June 3 at Grand River Raceway, as the Elora, Ont. track will host the kick-off to Tri-Pride Weekend
.
For the first time in harness racing history, the evening will feature a Drag (Queen) Race, starring four of the most sensational queens in Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge. Sharing double-seated jog carts with some of the province’s best drivers, past winners of the Miss Tri-Pride Pageant will trade sparkles for speed as they compete in this special half-mile exhibition race.
Festivities also include a ticketed event in the Captain’s Quarters dining room. Guests of this inaugural Tri-Pride fundraising event will enjoy a delicious buffet dinner for just $25 — a nice price which includes a race program, $10 in gaming vouchers (19+) and taxes and gratuities, plus the chance to win door prizes.
A penny auction will also be held in the main lobby, featuring a range of great prizes. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., dinner will begin at 6:00 p.m. and the races will kick off at 7:10 p.m. The Drag (Queen) Race will take place after Race 6, at approximately 9:15 p.m.
The event will also mark the start of Grand River Raceway’s Fun & Frivolity Friday Race Nights, which will continue through October 7. The usual Friday night festivities will include The NEIGHbourhood, which will be open from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the large white tent beside the track, offering kids a variety of free horse-themed crafts and activities.
Fridays will also feature Harness Racing Bingo, a fun way to play between the races. Find a free card inside every Grand River Raceway program and keep track of what happens during the races for your chance to win thousands in cash and prizes.
And finally, no Fun & Frivolity Friday Night would be complete without the world famous Bouncy Pony Stakes. The popular competition pits four patrons and their inflatable steeds against one another in a 35-metre dash on the racetrack. The Bouncy Pony Stakes will take centre stage after Race 10, and are guaranteed to provide some hilarious thrills and spills.
Dinner tickets for Tri-Pride Night at the Races on June 3 can be purchased by calling Grand River Raceway at (519) 846-5455 Ext. 238 or from one of these locations:
- Little Bean Coffee Bar – 417 King Street West, Unit B1, Kitchener
- Mom’s Tattoo Shop – 43 King Street North, Waterloo
- Sizzle – 135 George St. North, Cambridge
A portion of dinner ticket sales and all proceeds from the penny auction benefit Tri-Pride, the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) pride festival celebration in Waterloo Region (Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and area).
For more information, please visit grandriverraceway.com or contact [email protected].
(GRR)