Grand River Raceway (GRR) will kick off its 2026 harness racing season on Wednesday, June 3, with a post time of 6:20 p.m. 

The five-eighths-mile oval in Elora, Ont. will host 42 Standardbred race nights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through to mid-September, including 12 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) events over eight dates spread throughout the season. 

"Grand River Raceway checks all the boxes when planning an evening out,” said Christine Fairhall, GRR’s newly appointed Raceway Manager. “Whether you're looking for a fun, affordable outing with the family, or a lively night of friendly competition, it’s the place to be for great energy, good food and entertainment like no other. Admission continues to be free for all race nights.”

Grand River Raceway is proud to be bringing back the The NEIGHbourhood Kid’s Area for the second season after its revamp. The fun-filled zone designed just for young fans is located in the Tarmac Tent near the East Gate. This exciting space features a VR station with Standardbred races, alongside interactive educational games, hands-on activities, crafts, colouring and more – all focused on learning about horses and the exciting world of Standardbred horse racing. The NEIGHbourhood will be open on Friday nights in June and September, as well as Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings throughout July and August, making it the perfect family night out all summer long.

GrandWay Patio Parties are back. Guests can plan a VIP patio experience for a group of 12 or more people with a reserved space beside the track with a front-row seat to the action, delicious meal of their choosing, race program, barn tour, named horse race and more. Availability is limited and excludes special race nights. Contact [email protected] to reserve a date. 

Grand River's special race days include:

• June 3 – Opening Night
• July 10 – Wiener Dog Races
• Aug. 3 – Industry Day (featuring the Battle of Waterloo, presented by Winbak Farms – 12:30 p.m. post time along with an assortment of exciting extras on site)
• Date TBD - National Caretaker Appreciation Day

All event details are available at grandriverraceway.com.

The Captain’s Quarters (CQ) remains open for first-come, first-served spectator seating (excluding specialty race nights). While the tiered indoor dining buffet is now closed, guests are welcome to pick up food from The GrandWay Lounge or the trackside BBQ and bring it up to the CQ.

Grand River Raceway is ready for another unforgettable summer of racing, entertainment and community fun. 

To view entries for Grand River Raceway's 10-race Opening Night card, click the following links: Wednesday Entries - Grand River Raceway // Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).

(Grand River Raceway)