Saskatchewan Dates Announced; West Meadows To Race

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Published: April 9, 2011 10:29 am EDT

The Saskatchewan Standardbred Horsemen's Association has announced that race dates have been finalized for 2011

. Racing will start in Yorkton on June 17 and go until Saturday, September 10, 2011. Harness racing will then switch over to the new West Meadows Raceway in Regina for four weeks on Sunday afternoons starting September 18th and go to October 9th with a Sunday afternoon post time of 1:00 pm.

"Although it wasn't the 8 days we had applied for and hoped for, it is a start," Jane Grainger, President of West Meadows Raceway, told Trot Insider. "It's been a long time coming and we can't wait to promote our product to Regina (home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders) and surrounding areas.

"There is a lot of interest from outside the province too. Horse racing enthusiasts as well as newcomers to the Standardbred industry are welcoming the news," continued Grainger. "So many have worked so hard so that racing could be brought back to the Regina area."

Marquis Downs in Saskatoon applied for eight harness race days and received funding for them, but chose to apply the funding toward their thoroughbred program.

SSHA also announced the launch of the Saskatchewan Sires Stakes which will be raced in September of 2012. Saskatchewan's richest race with a purse of $10,000.00 guaranteed will feature Saskatchewan-sired colts and fillies that are five years old and younger. More details will soon be released and also available on the SSHA website.

(with files from SSHA)

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