“What’s the hurry, Surrey? Why aren’t we racing today? There’s nothing in the community plan. There’s nothing going on here for years.”
At a public rally against the closure of the Fraser Downs on Thursday, Sept. 4 at Cloverdale Fairgrounds, Harness Racing British Columbia president Kelly MacMillan and racing supporters were seeking answers for the sudden end to racing in the province when, just weeks before the scheduled fall meet, American-owned racetrack operator Great Canadian Entertainment announced that the City of Surrey had chosen to enact its lease recapture clause on the land currently occupied by Fraser Downs. All racing was immediately cancelled with reports of the track infrastructure being dismantled soon after. Meanwhile, the casino and racebook operations continue in the grandstand's Elements Casino Surrey, which was not part of the lease termination.
“Originally, when that casino was granted to Surrey, it was granted to support horse racing,” MacMillan was quoted by Peace Arch News as saying at the rally. “So, the agreement was between the Province and, at that time, it was [Great Canadian parent company] Orangeville Raceway, and the City of Surrey.
“It seems, the City of Surrey has uncoupled the lease, physically anyway, from the casino and we're saying that's in contravention of the original deal,” explained MacMillan. “If there’s no racetrack — no live racing — there's no casino. That’s the only reason it’s there.”
Without any redevelopment plans approved by the City Council, MacMillan questioned the need for the sudden closure and the lack of notice provided to the industry.
MacMillan stated that multiple requests by HRBC to meet with Mayor Brenda Locke went unanswered before he was asked by city manager Rob Costanzo not to contact them anymore.
The harness racing community is seeking an immediate halt to track dismantling, accountability from Mayor Locke and City of Surrey decision-makers along with protection for horses, workers and B.C.’s rich racing tradition.
A petition advocating for the preservation of Fraser Downs has received more than 6,250 signatures as of press time.
Click here to read the Peace Arch News article in its entirety.
(With files from Peace Arch News)