Racing action begins at Canada’s oldest active half-mile racetrack this Sunday, May 7 at 1 p.m. Atlantic Time with an eight-race card and lots of positivity heading into Truro Raceway's 2023 harness racing season.
Opening day will feature free pizza and drinks (while supplies last) for fans attending the races in person. On May 7, HPI customers will receive three per cent cash back if they wager more than $60 for the card.
The long-awaited grandstand, which has been under renovations for the past three years, will have the bottom level accessible to customers beginning on June 4, which should make the customer experience much better after three years of no tarmac access and no grandstand.
New General Manager Steve Fitzsimmons has been busy in his two months with Truro, introducing a multitude of changes for the 2023 season, including revamping the Truro wagering menu to make it competitive Canada-wide. Those changes include introducing Canada’s lowest takeout Pick 5 at only 12 per cent, with a new 20-cent minimum, that will kick off Truro's race cards each day in Race 1.
Truro has also dropped its takeout rates across the board on all wagers, with Win, Place and Show, Daily Double, Trifecta and Superfecta wagering takeout rates all down significantly. There will also be a late Pick 4 in the final four races, with a 15 per cent takeout rate, 20-cent minimum and a new $750 guaranteed pool. Superfectas will be added in Races 2, 4 and 6 for the season, as long as horse population allows.
Fitzsimmons will also unveil a new look broadcast, that will include a pre-game show that begins at 12:20 p.m. Atlantic Time. The pre-game show and race day broadcast will have racing analysts Melissa Keith and Grady Hachey hosting and offering up their handicapping selections between each race and leading up to post time. Woodbine Mohawk Park’s Mark McKelvie and The Raceway at Western Fair District’s Shannon “Sugar” Doyle will also provide weekly selections for bettors to consider. Marketing Assistant Kaitlyn Wesley will contribute a weekly interview as part of the pre-game show. Longtime track announcer Joe Kelly returns to the booth for his 37th season as the voice of Truro Raceway.
Some other changes this season include an operational change to Post 8, with it moving from the far outside post position, to now being the trailer position for all overnight races.
The track will also host the richest harness race in Nova Scotia this season, with the inaugural Diamond Classic, a slot buy-in race that will go forward on Sunday, Nov. 5 for two-year-old Atlantic-sired pacing fillies and will have a $50,000 purse.
Fans can also expect to see a newly revamped race program, with additional information for bettors and an updated, stylish format.
Shannon “Sugar” Doyle and Caity Hillier, Racing Analyst for Hanover Raceway the past two seasons, will join Truro Raceway on-site to bolster the track's coverage of four race cards during Grand Circuit Week from July 16 to 23.
The racetrack will also have lots of special events this season along with its usual slate of Atlantic Sires Stakes races and traditional Truro-based stakes like the Stanfield Stakes, Turner Stakes and Lindsay Cup.
One special event that has fans buzzing is the upcoming Ontario vs. Nova Scotia Drivers Challenge on June 4, with drivers James MacDonald, Bob McClure, Doug McNair and Louis-Philippe Roy representing Team Ontario, while Redmond Doucet, Ernie Laffin, Paul Langille and Mark Pezzarello will represent Team Nova Scotia. The event will be a fundraiser for Kidsport Nova Scotia and will feature a meet and greet with the drivers after the race card.
Other highlights of the upcoming season include: Distance Day on July 16 with half-mile, three-quarters of a mile, and mile and a half races; Harness The Hope Day as part of Grand Circuit week on July 23; and a celebration of a specific driver’s career (soon to be announced) on Sept. 10.
A season filled with promise, the Bible Hill, N.S. oval looks to take a step forward in its whole operation.
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Truro Raceway.
(With files from Truro Raceway)