Grand River Raceway recently wrapped up its program of hands-on activities celebrating National Horse Week. The five events saw more than 250 newbies drive a horse
for the first time.
Working in cooperation with the Ontario Harness Horse Association, and using resources from the Ontario Harness Racing Youth Camp program, the Elora, ON track hosted five interactive events over the past 10 days aimed at engaging people in harness racing.
Grand River Raceway’s Showtime Staff Training program spanned two days and gave more than 30 frontline employees — including staff and management from the OLG Slots at Grand River Raceway — a hands-on appreciation and understanding of the industry.
The track’s second annual Open House was held last Sunday, featuring six interactive stations which covered a gamut of topics and included volunteers and resources from the local driver/trainer colony and organizations such as OHHA, Standardbred Canada, the Ontario Racing Commission, the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association and the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society.
The following race night, 14 lucky race patrons jogged their first horse around the track between the races in OHHA’s popular So You Think You Can Drive program.
The fifth and final Horse Week initiative concluded yesterday, prior to the start of the Grand River card. Twenty delegates from a convention hosted locally by the Good Roads Association, spent three hours learning the basics of horses and harness racing. Working in partnership with the local tourism office, the track offered the program as a choice for the visiting delegates’ free-day activity in the convention itinerary.
Grand River Raceway extends its sincere appreciation to all of the efforts put forth by industry participants and organizations in helping to stage these five events. In particular, thanks to the staff of the Ontario Harness Horse Association and its Ontario Harness Racing Youth Camp program.
To view photos from all of these events, visit Grand River Raceway’s Facebook page.
(Grand River Raceway)