This Winter Fraser Downs will be throwing out the welcome mat to all Olympic Games visitors to British Columbia

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“It will be business-as-usual for Fraser Downs during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler," Fraser's GM Chuck Keeling told HPI Quarterly. Being located in Surrey, British Columbia, Fraser Downs is roughly 40 kilometres from downtown Vancouver or, as Keeling puts it, "30 miles away from the maddening crowd."

The official 2010 Winter Olympic Games dates are February 12-28 with the Paralympic Games slated for March 12-21. Visitors from around the world will begin arriving in early January.

Keeling and his staff at Fraser Downs plan to make it well known that the BC Standardbred Association (BCSA) Open Stakes Schedule will be at full throttle during January, February and March. It begins with the January 8th Keith Linton Memorial for 4-year-old horses and geldings who are non-winners of $30,000 lifetime. Next up is the January 16th Penny Bath Memorial for 4-year-old mares who are non-winners $30,000 lifetime.

The River Rock Resort Cup is set for February 13th, an Open Pace for 4-year-old colts and geldings. The following day – February 14th – The Miss Valentine is reserved for 4-year-old mares. All of these stakes have purses of $25,000. Then on March 13th the big one clicks-in with the $75,000 Princess of the Pacific sponsored by the BCSA for fillies and mares in an Open Pace.

(HPI Quarterly)