On Wednesday, March 11, Standardbred Canada announced a multi-year initiative to help

re-energize horse racing across Canada through the launch of Adrenaline - Canada's Racing Festival.

Speaking at Sarnia's Hiawatha Horse Park and Entertainment Centre before local politicians, industry stakeholders and members of the media, Ted Smith, Standardbred Canada's President and Chief Executive Officer, called it "the dawn of a new day."

Adrenaline will be a unique four-day festival combining horse racing, food, live music, sports competitions, entertainment and more. Hiawatha Horse Park in Sarnia, Ontario will host the inaugural edition of Adrenaline from Thursday, August 20 through Sunday, August 23.

The first three days of the festival will target the 19 – 35 demographic and feature non-stop action and entertainment including a beach volleyball tournament, live music, a Battle of the Bands, sporting events, a vendor’s showcase, Coyote Ugly, food competitions and more. Sunday’s activities will focus on family fun with interactive and educational Horseplay events, a Giddy Up and Gallop Fun Run, games and competitions for kids aged 3 – 14, food and more. Forty exciting horse races will complement the off-track entertainment over the four days.

Adrenaline is expected to attract 30,000-40,000 visitors over the four days.

“Hiawatha Horse Park and Entertainment Centre is pleased to be the first racetrack to host Adrenaline and we are looking forward to the excitement that it will bring to Sarnia this August,” said Robert Locke, General Manager of Hiawatha Horse Park.

“This project has been in the works for over a year now,” explained Kathy Wade Vlaar, Manager of Industry Marketing for Standardbred Canada. “This is the first of many Adrenaline Festivals we intend to hold across the country. Our projected $1 million budget is supported by government, industry and sponsors. Our vision is to develop a brand that will help to generate awareness of harness racing, develop new customers, and generate revenue while fostering community spirit and driving the tourism industry within the local communities.”

“We are extremely excited about hosting this festival in Sarnia-Lambton. This event will not only showcase Hiawatha Horse Park and Entertainment Centre but it will also showcase our community,” said Mayor Mike Bradley.

“Sarnia was an ideal venue for our inaugural Adrenaline festival,” explained Mark Hetherman, Festival Manager. “Its location and proximity to the U.S. has great potential to bring in American tourists and the fact that Hiawatha and Tourism Sarnia-Lambton have an excellent track record of organizing multi-day events will drive the success of this first-time event.”