Hiawatha Horse Park owner Jim Henderson has commented on his Sarnia, Ont. track being granted 21 live race dates for the 2015 season.

While speaking with Paul Morden of the Sarnia Observer, Henderson was cited as saying that the track’s schedule of live racing on Saturdays (from May 9 through until September 26) may end up end attracting more customers on Saturdays.

Hiawatha offered 21 live race dates in 2014, but the dates took place on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Henderson said that it was tough for the track to prepare for the 2014 season because it learned of its racing schedule just roughly 10 days before its first live card. Nevertheless, Henderson said that the 2014 season "wasn't that bad," adding that the track was still able to attract a lot of customers.

Henderson told Morden that the track "had a lot of customers” during its 2014 meet and that there was “a lot of demand, a lot of horses."

In addition to discussing 2015 dates and this year’s meet, Henderson talked about some of the changes that Hiawatha has undertook in order to move away from the slot-machine gaming that it also used to offer its customers. He said that a banquet facility is in place where the gaming floor used to be and that the track is looking to rent out 15,000 square feet of office space which is available at the track.

(With files from the Sarnia Observer)

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