Officials have addressed a report that raised eyebrows regarding the future of harness racing at Northside Downs in Nova Scotia.
A CBC report indicated that a community-led group was looking to purchase the exhibition grounds in North Sydney, N.S. but that proposal and bid was rejected by the Cape Breton Federation of Agriculture (CBFA). The property will instead be put up for sale with a realtor.
Part of that property is the Northside Downs racetrack.
"Harness Racing Cape Breton currently leases the racetrack portion of the Cape Breton Exhibition property in North Sydney from the Cape Breton-Richmond Federation of Agriculture," Harness Racing Cape Breton Chairperson Joel LeBlanc told Trot Insider. "We have a long-term lease in place and it is business as usual for us at this time.
"The CBFA has decided to sell the property, which has a number of other equine uses; show horses, barrel racing, etc.. We are optimistic that the property will be acquired for continued long-term horse use well into the future," LeBlanc continued. "The property has been has been a cornerstone for the agricultural community in Cape Breton for decades and there seems to be significant community support for this to continue."
CBC reached out to the CBFA for comment, but the request for an interview was denied until the Board completed its internal discussions.
Northside Downs is scheduled to start its 2022 season of harness racing on Saturday, May 14.