According to reports, the Ontario Racing Commission has received a 2013 race date application from Fort Erie Raceway.
A non-refundable fee of $3,200 accompanied the application for a 76-day season at the border oval according to a Thursday report on NiagaraThisWeek.com.
This is the first of three steps that must be taken by track owners/operators to obtain race dates. Fort Erie Racetrack will have to undergo a newly-required audit by an outside financial expert with horse racing experience, and once it clears that hurdle the track will have to have an analysis of the business plan and race date proposal to determine the validity of the business model and determine how many race dates each track can support.
“We will also have to seriously consider the impact on horse supply,” said Fort Erie Racetrack’s CEO Jim Thibert of the further challenges facing the embattled track.