With wagering at New Brunswick's Fredericton Raceway on the rise in comparison to 2008 numbers, there is no surprise that optimism is abundant at the

half-mile oval.

In an article today by The Daily Gleaner, Horse Racing New Brunswick executive director Jeff Malloy referred to the 2009 season at the Fredericton oval as being "a great year."

As the report explains, the wager is up and people at the track have a good reason to be upbeat once again.

The article states that on-site wagering was up more than 40 per cent -- from $85,000 in a dozen cards last year, to $133,000 through 13 cards through the end of August this season. Those numbers don't include five more cards through FREX week in September, one other afterward, or, of course, Thursday's farewell card.

To read more comments about the positive year in the Maritime harness racing scene, click here to the read The Daily Gleaner article in its entirety.

(With files from The Daily Gleaner)