Fraser Downs wrapped up its 2023 harness racing season on Friday, Dec. 15 with great momentum going into the holiday break.  

BC Racebook has reported that the Surrey, B.C. racetrack experienced a 36 per cent increase in average wagering per program compared to the previous year, marking the highest in almost a decade. Despite hosting eight fewer dates, total wagering for the year had a 19 per cent boost from 2022, showcasing the growing support for the competitive harness racing on the five-eighths-mile oval.

In September 2023, Fraser Downs introduced major enhancements to the race viewing experience, implementing full HD video and a state-of-the-art graphics system. In addition, all of the races are streamed on YouTube Live, making the new high-quality broadcast accessible for customers on all devices, including their big screen TV at home. 

The adoption of a consistent Thursday-Friday racing schedule has been well received by the market, with the Pacific time zone proving attractive to players. This scheduling approach complements the last few races from the eastern harness tracks, such as Woodbine and Meadowlands, and extends the wagering opportunities when they finish. 

Another contributing factor to the success this year has been the low takeout strategy. Fraser Downs has one of the lowest takeouts in the industry, with a rate of only 15 per cent on Win, Place, Show, Double, Classic Hi 5, Pick 3, Pick 4 and Classic Pick 5 bet types. Feedback from horseplayers played a big role in these strategies, including the conversion of the Jackpot Pick 5 to a Classic Pick 5 with the 100 per cent carryover. 

Dawn Lupul, Manager of Racing and Communications, expressed gratitude, stating, "The consistent schedule, broadcast advancements and player-focused initiatives have truly resonated with our horseplayers. We are so thankful for their support and look forward to building on this success in 2024.”

The 2024 live racing calendar has been approved and Fraser Downs will resume racing on Feb. 1 after the holiday break, running every Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET through April 26. Racing will then break for the summer and return in September, continuing through the end of the year.  To view Fraser Downs's full 2024 race date calendar, click here.

(With files from BC Racebook)