Harness racing fans will have to wait a tad bit longer for the grand opening of the new track that is being built in Manitoba.
According to a recent letter sent out by Garth Rogerson, CEO of Red River Exhibition Association, there have been unforeseen issues that have pushed the opening of The Loop now to August 27.
The original opening was scheduled for June 18 so the races could coincide with the Red River Ex Summer Fair. However, due to a higher-than-expected amount of rain and construction delays, the date was moved back to July 23. Now again, a few more weeks delay is pushing the opening to the end of August. The hope is to have live racing during the Red River Ex’s Fall Fair, which will take place September 1-5.
Rogerson emphasizes that the nonstop rain and unpredictable Manitoban weather is the main issue with the delay.
“It seems to rain heavy once or twice a week including a big storm last night," Rogerson told Trot Insider. "We have standing water everywhere. The issue is being able to drive a semi onto the surface to drop the final surface material. The base seems hard, but the trucks just sink in because the water table is so high.
"We are pumping an adjacent retention pond trying to bleed some of the water off and as fast as we pump more water pours in. We need a period of hot, dry weather so we can get this project done. I have equipment booked to come in the week of July 25th to finish the surface, so we need dry weather from now until we are complete.”
Miami Fair will continue to host racing until the completion of The Loop. The small fair track in Southern Manitoba was supposed to only host two weekends but will now host racing on the following dates: July 23, July 30, August 6, August 13 and August 20.
Simulcast wagering will be unavailable for Miami Fair but, with the increase in racing dates, a live stream is in the works to be made available for fans to watch if they cannot make it out to the track. Post time will be at 2 p.m. Central time.
The tentative plan is for racing to then continue at The Loop for the following dates: August 27, September 4, September 5, September 10, September 17, September 24, October 1, October 8, October 15, October 22 and October 29.
Post time is scheduled to be at 2 p.m. local Central time in August and September but will change to 1 p.m. Central in October.
Trevor Williams, President of Manitoba Standardbred Racing Industry, is still confident that racing will happen in Winnipeg this year.
“Garth indicated he would really like to get some race dates in this summer and came up with a date of August 27th," said Williams. "Together with Miami, we’ve worked out a schedule that would see us racing in Miami until the 20th of August and then the Loop until late October. I agree with Garth, it is important to get some dates in this year, even if they are later than anticipated. This year has been extremely difficult with all of the challenges we have faced but I am confident that Garth and the team are hard at work for this new opening.”
(A Trot Insider exclusive by Trey Colbeck)