According to an article, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation has informed officials with Dresden Raceway that the 140-year-old track has been given the go-ahead to host racing for at least the next five years.
An article by the Postmedia Network that appears on the website of the Wallaceburg Courier Press states that Dresden Raceway made the announcement via its Facebook page.
The article states that it was just last month when a small group of London-area horsepeople proposed the idea of ceasing live racing at Dresden Raceway and the Hiawatha Horse Park in order to improve the local racing industry.
There has been a great deal of uncertainty regarding the status of live racing at Dresden, and according to Gary Paterson, who handles public relations for the track, the announcement will bring some much-needed stability for the raceway.
Patterson has been quoted as saying, “The plan is to keep things as they are or better.”
The article does not include any further details regarding the situation.
The article has also cited Patterson as saying that the OLG wants the smaller tracks to become sustainable, and that the corporation is willing to help the tracks with direction, ideas and marketing.
“They (OLG) want to make horse racing – not just harness racing – a sustainable product,” Patterson was quoted as saying. “They are putting the onus on the tracks to get better at marketing in bringing the patrons in and bringing the on-track handle up.”
Dresden has secured 11 race dates for its 2016 season, which will kick off on Sunday, May 29 and will run through Monday, August 1.
According to Patterson, Dresden has applied for 'a couple' of additional race dates and are awaiting word as to whether or not the dates will be granted.
(With files from the Wallaceburg Courier Press)