Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Commission General Manager Joe Nicholson has reported some promising news in regard to wagering at Truro Raceway.

In an article by the Truro Daily News, Nicholson has stated that even though ‘on-site bettors’ were down by 2.8 per cent in 2016 compared to the previous year, ‘total electronic wagering’ saw a 13.2 per cent increase in 2016.

Nicholson also stated that simulcast wagering from the United States accounted for 15 per cent of last year’s wagers. Additionally, he explained that European wagering, which was taken in through the Isle Of Man, accounted for 11.8 per cent of the wagers.

News of the wagering numbers comes in the Truro Daily News article which states that the NSPE Commission has requested a combined $400,000 from the County of Colchester and the Town of Truro in order to upgrade a number of buildings. Nicholson has said that the capital is needed to create revenue generators and usable community space that the exhibition is capable of.

“We’re working hard to make this place help meet its potential,” Nicholson was quoted as saying. “It will be much more difficult if we don’t receive it.”

Nicholson has said that Truro Raceway generates roughly 65 per cent of the overall revenue at the exhibition.

“To me what it (the positive wagering numbers) speaks to, is that there is a lot that goes on here and there’s a lot more than what meets the eye,” Nicholson said.

(With files from the Truro Daily News)