The official launch of Horse Racing New Brunswick’s racing calendar has been delayed with plans for a March 7 program at Saint John called off

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Jamie Hachey, president of the recently formed organization that will oversee all racing in the province, made the announcement today.

“We’re about a month behind schedule in getting everything up and running and the weather hasn’t helped, either," said Hachey, who said there were not enough horses ready to stage a program this weekend.

“We want to start off on a positive note, and staging a program with short fields is not the way to kick things off,” said Hachey, who said HRNB had called a meeting with the Saint John horsemen for Saturday afternoon to discuss the situation.

Hachey said he expects staffing for the Saint John racetrack will be completed by this weekend.

The organization signed a lease deal with the Saint John Exhibition Association last Friday, but a lease agreement with Fredericton Raceway is still being negotiated.

“The Fredericton horsemen were 100 per cent in support, but a couple of the FREX directors want a couple of things clarified,” said Hachey.

Fredericton is scheduled to open its season on the Victoria Day holiday, May 18.

Hachey said weather conditions have impacted track conditions at Saint John and as a result many horsemen haven’t been able to get training miles in.

The track has been dark since December 27, 2008, the last day in which Exhibition Park Raceway operated the race meet.

(Atlantic Post Calls)