Ten months of harness racing, a dominant trainer returning home and a reduced takeout rate for the horseplayers. Can Fraser Downs convert these positives into a successful Fall-Winter meet?
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The BC track starting its Fall meet on Friday night with a returning Rod Therres, the province's trainer of the year in 2009 who then headed East to campaign on the WEG circuit. Therres was successful in his stint in Ontario and many were surprised when he announced in August he was heading home.
"I had a lot of people ask me, I spent one Winter there and that was enough!", noted Therres with a laugh. "That, and they have 10 months racing here in BC."
Therres won't be bringing his stable star Village Janus back home just yet. Plans call for the 2010 Battle of the Belles winner to finish out the Ontario Sires Stakes season before possibly taking a shot at the Western Filly Pace at Northlands Park.
Perhaps leaving Janus in Ontario was for the best, as Fraser's Race Secretary notes that a virus hit the barns about three weeks ago and set back a fair number of horses - so much so that the track is short horses for the opening weekend.
"We have cancelled Saturday's racing and came back with a very, very strong card of 12 races on Sunday," stated Wittup. "I think the biggest reason and to keep everything on more than a positive note - and Rod can verify this - we had a virus go through here probably three weeks ago , and if you look at the overnights not many two-year-olds are in this weekend. I think we're going to have an awful lot of qualifiers on Saturday and that should get us through the hump. Once we get through this first weekend I hope it gets better. It's better to have this now than in a few weekends when the stakes races start."
When asked by Trot Radio's Norm Borg about the possibility of Fraser hosting thoroughbred as well as harness racing, Wittup reports that talks are underway and positive to keep Hastings Park as the province's thoroughbred facility.
"I know negotiations are going very well between the city of Vancouver and Hastings," said Wittup. "I personally do not believe that will ever happen and I think Hastings will be signed in the near future."
Wittup also notes the opening night feature in concert with the local Chamber of Commerce that will see nine people new to standardbred racing become an owner for a night as well as the reduced 15 per cent takeout or win-place-show and Win4 wagering. "It was dropped at Hastings this year and I think once the field size got better, there was a remarkable recovery in their wagering. So maybe that's part of the answer."
To listen to the full interview with Borg, Therres and Wittup, click the play button below.
Episode 227 – Fraser Downs Opening Weekend, featuring Fraser's Jackson Wittup and trainer Rod Therres
Audio Format: MP3 audio
Host: Norm Borg
Please note that the opinions expressed in the featured interview are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect Rideau Carleton Raceway and/or Standardbred Canada.