The 2023 winter/spring meet at Fraser Downs finished with wagering numbers on the rise and “great vibes all around,” according to Kelly MacMillan, President of Harness Racing BC.
“Our handles these past four months have been record-setting,” said MacMillan. “We’ll be analyzing things between now and when we re-start in September with some exciting new approaches to our overall product. Everyone involved is fired-up.”
The winter/spring season ran from Feb. 2 through May 5 on a Thursday/Friday night schedule that included 28 race dates. February resulted in the second-highest amount of wagering over the last nine years for that month. March had the highest amount of wagering since 2015 and April numbers were the highest in the past nine years.
To break down the comparisons more precisely, the Fraser Downs winter/spring meet handle increased by 18 per cent compared to 2022; it increased by 62 per cent over 2021 and was up by 45 per cent compared to 2020.
“We seem to have been rediscovered thanks to the marketing efforts of BC Racebook,” said MacMillan. “Our raised awareness got the attention of the betting public throughout North America, not to mention what a huge hit Friday nights became with so many on-site promotions.”
MacMillan noted there were several on-track thrills and accomplishments that kept the momentum going at Fraser Downs, beginning with the international headlines created by veteran driver Brandon Campbell.
Campbell drove Outlaw C My Shadow to nine consecutive Open victories this year for trainer Connie Kolthammer. The six-year-old gelding has won 11 consecutive starts dating back to last year for the Outlaw West Stable and with 21 career wins, his lifetime earnings are in excess of $180,000.
In the process of capturing the Fraser Downs driving title with an awesome 92 wins during the 28-day meet, Campbell swept the $50,000 Penny Bath and $50,000 Keith Linton Memorial sophomore stakes for the Jim Marino stable on the final card of the meet. With the stakes double, Marino tied Kelly Hoerdt to share top trainer honours, each with 46 winners.
Racing resumes at Fraser Downs on Thursday, Sept. 14 with the fall meeting ending on Dec. 15.
(With files from BC Racebook)