Leamington Raceway opened its 2020 live meet this past Sunday (August 9), and although the half-mile track had its work cut out for it, everyone pulled together to ensure the show went on. Those efforts were not lost on the local media, which has descended on the raceway for a preview of what the track's live season will entail.
Leamington is set to play host 13 race dates this year. The action will take place every Sunday until October 25, and the raceway will also be showcasing a program of live racing on Labour Day (Monday, September 7).
As a report by CTV Windsor explains, local horsepeople are surely glad that racing is taking place at the track, even though generating handle can be challenging because fans are currently not allowed to attend the races live due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No fans at the track means no on-track handle for Leamington, which is now currently relying on remote wagering as its sole source of action on its dashes.
The half-mile oval hosted a 10-race program to kick off its meet this past Sunday. Got Sexy Scars ($9.00) took her time and reached in the final yards of the featured $7,100 Ontario Prospect Series race for two-year-old pacing fillies (to read a recap, click here).
"Definitely, all along a big concern of ours that we wouldn’t even be able to open (due to the pandemic)," explained Lakeshore Horse Raceway Association executive Tom Bain, whose group operates racing at Leamington. Bain also stressed that securing future race dates is absolutely key for the raceway's future.
In regard to Leamington's meet-opening card, Bain told the Windsor Star that even though there were no fans in the stands, the day "went quite smoothly." Bain went on to state that “we had more horses entered than we’ve ever had. And the day went quite well, as far as the racing went.”
Eighteen-year-old Nathan Bain, Tom's grandson, has made a name for himself over the past few years with his work in the announcer's booth. Nathan, who called his first race at the age of 12, is Leamington's race caller for the 2020 meet. With no patrons currently in the stands, Nathan is gearing his calls and his work between races to the fans that are watching, and hopefully wagering, via simulcast.
"It's just a dream come true," Nathan has told the CBC, in regard to landing the announcer's job at the track this year.
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"My grandpa's been involved (in the Standardbred industry for) 50 years and my dad's (David Bain) been involved most of his life, too, so it's just kind of in my blood."
CTV Windsor has profiled the three Bains, who together comprise Bain Racing Stables. The piece explains that David and Tom are both certified trainers, while Nathan, along with calling the races and doing media work, is also quite active as a groom.
“Not only do we come out every morning and work here but we also travel a lot during the week, racetrack to racetrack, so we're pretty much together seven days a week," David explained. "It's a good family experience.”
According to the Windsor Star, Lakeshore Horse Raceway Association officials are hoping that the track will be able to host at least a limited amount of patrons in the near future -- hopefully as early as this coming Sunday.
As the Windsor Star explains, with Windsor-Essex set to enter Stage 3 of provincial pandemic protocols this week, the LHRA board held an emergency meeting Monday night (August 10) to begin planning to welcome spectators — to a maximum of 100 — back to the track.
“There’s a lot of regulations we’ve got to follow and things we’ve got to do for this Sunday but we’re certainly going to try,” Bain was quoted as saying.
The condition sheet for Leamington's August 16 card of live racing is now online, and entries are due by 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday (August 12).
(With files from the CBC, CTV Windsor and the Windsor Star)