On Thursday, July 4, the Ontario Racing Commission issued a Notice to the Industry in regard to the 2013 race-date calendar for the Hiawatha Horse Park in Sarnia, Ont.
Hiawatha has been granted the dates for a 20-race-date meet, which will see live racing take place on Tuesdays and Saturdays beginning Saturday, July 20 and ending Saturday, September 28.
REVISION: An error was made on the original calendar, as it did not include Tuesday, July 30. Thus, Tuesday, July 30 has been added and Tuesday, September 24 has been dropped, maintaining the total number of race dates at 20.
The ORC has also released a revised 2013 race-date calendar for Hiawatha. The revised calendar can be accessed by clicking here.
The contents of the revised ORC notice on the issue appears below.
ORC Approves 2013 Race Dates for Hiawatha
Notice of Director’s decision regarding application for variance
The Director of the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) has considered and approved an application for variance from Hiawatha Horse Park regarding its 2013 race date schedule.
The 20 day meet will run Saturdays from July 20 to September 28 and Tuesdays from July 23 to September 17. All dates are assigned Grassroots status, although Signature status on Tuesdays will be considered if Hiawatha demonstrates sufficient wagering through the uplink of its signal.
Saturdays have been Hiawatha’s strongest date for its live customers and the move from Thursdays to Tuesdays will provide more opportunities in the simulcast market and is consistent with the Ontario Racing Program principle of synchronization of dates.
The change in dates will be reflected in the licence issued to 405730 Ontario Ltd., the owner/operator of Hiawatha Horse Park.
Please be advised that any aggrieved party has the right to appeal the Director’s decision to the Commission.
While every track opening
While every track opening provides greater exposure of our product, I think its a chicken and egg paradox. Grassroots status means that Hiawatha will not be permitted to uplink as strong a card as possible due to purse restrictions. So they are being set up for failure. Conversely, if the cards in which uplink is available are allowed to be run as signature cards, the probability of success is greatly improved. In addition, it provides the horsemen in the southwest a much needed viable alternative to Grand River and Mohawk.
Hiawatha is a perfect example of a track which provides a great entertainment option for its local residents. The facility usually has great attendance on live nights. It would be wonderful to see published data which shows the per machine slot handle at this facility on live nights vs dark nights. Unfortunately, the olg and transition panel take a very inside the box approach in evaluating the viability of harness racing. These figures may make a case for increased support and the word subsidy may be able to be replaced with symbiosis. One must think if the olg, track owner, and horsepeople do their best to put together the best product possible, all parties win. One would think that partnership should provide dividends equally for all involved. The dates were not approved due to charity or good will. Follow the money.
It should be interesting to
It should be interesting to see if Georgian suffers from this.
Good luck to Sarnia and the horseman. Making changes from the norm is a great start.
Just 20 days for one of the
Just 20 days for one of the nicest tracks in Canada????
How is this beautiful track not packed?