On the heels of an announcement late last month that harness racing would in fact return to Canada's oldest racetrack in Fredericton, N.B., the committee behind the initiative has received a substantial boost from outside the province, which has come from Meridian Farms.

Fredericton Raceway 130, the strategic committee formed to revitalize harness racing in Fredericton, has announced that Meridian Farms will become a major sponsor of the matinee race program scheduled for September 9, 2017.

“We are very grateful to Bill Andrew and everyone at Meridian Farms for supporting our matinee race card and our efforts to bring harness racing back to Fredericton,” said Brent Briggs, former Fredericton Raceway general manager and co-chair of Fredericton Raceway 130.

Fredericton Raceway 130 had previously announced that Chippins Ltd. Real Estate would again be sponsoring the Jennie and Joe Chippin Memorial Race and Fredericton Exhibition Ltd. would be sponsoring memorial races for former board members Albert Goodine, Jim Fearneley, Tony Decourcey and Bill Thornton.

Brian Embleton, the other co-chair of Fredericton Raceway 130 and former raceway manager said efforts to bring harness racing back to Fredericton began earlier this year when no racing dates were scheduled for this season.

“We felt it is essential to maintain the industry here in Fredericton,” Embleton said. “With no racing dates in 2017 and only three last year, it was important to keep it alive. The matinee is, hopefully, only the beginning.”

Fredericton Raceway will commemorate its 130th birthday this year.

(with files from Fredericton Raceway 130)