Truro Harness Horse Owners Association President Steve Morton has said that he is optimistic about the upcoming season of live racing at Truro Raceway, which is scheduled to kick off this Friday (April 27) at the Bible Hill oval.

While speaking with the Truro Daily News, Morton explained that a short-term lease has been secured which will allow for the use of the grandstand during race days.

In February, Truro Raceway officially began a period of transition, as it made moves to separate its operations from those of the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Commission. The moves included the introduction of a board of directors.

The Truro Daily News piece states that the THHOA is renting the track, stables and related facilities for $200 per month.

“We’re back in the grandstand, and I think we’ll have enough horses for six full fields (on opening day),” said Morton. “Some people from Sydney, and some from P.E.I., have said they’d bring horses.”

Truro played host to a qualifying session on Sunday (April 22), which saw a total of 40 horses put their nostrils on the starting gate. The eight-race docket was highlighted by Weather Hanover, who recorded the fastest win time of the session (1:59.1).

Chrissy Matheson, a media relations advisor with the province, has stated that it is up to the THHOA as to what services will be offered in the grandstand on race days.

The large majority of Truro’s summer race dates have been scheduled for Friday evenings, with a switch to Sundays in the fall. Morton conveyed to the Truro Daily News that the newly-formed board will be able to make the switch back to afternoon racing if it sees fit. To view Truro’s 2018 race-date schedule, click here.

(With files from the Truro Daily News)