In a statement issued on Friday (May 14), officials with Rideau Carleton Raceway expressed intentions to restore the track's live harness racing schedule next month.
The statement from Rideau Carleton is as follows:
Following yesterday’s announcement from the province extending Ontario’s stay-at-home order until June 2nd; Rideau Carleton Raceway, in conjunction with the National Capital Region Harness Horse Association (NCRHHA) wish to convey our intentions to restore our live schedule of racing beginning Thursday, June 3rd pending expected AGCO qualifying accommodations similar to previous lockdowns and permission from Ontario’s provincial and Health Authorities.
“Rideau Carleton’s horsepeople have endured a disproportionate weight of financial burden throughout this lockdown, out of line with our industry’s reality when considering our record of no transmissions while racing over the last year, our participants' rates of vaccination and the medical establishment’s opinions of contagion risk for outside activities,” said Peter Andrusek, Racing Manager. “It is not hyperbole; serious and long-term consequences for RCR’s race program will be unavoidable should further dates be rescinded.”
The track will continue to be available for horses to ship in for training as per our existing COVID Protocols; reservations will be required and can be made by contacting Sue McDonald at (613) 822-2211 ext 4303.
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