A total of $10,000 in purses were up for grabs Sunday, September 22 at Leamington Raceway, and the large crowd at the half-mile track wagered more than $23,000 on the 10-race card. “We’ve shown we can put the racing card on here in Leamington and that we’ll be going ahead with our next three races and we’re going to be back asking for 20 or 30 days next year,” Essex County Warden and Lakeshore Mayor Tom Bain has said.
Bain, who is also part of the executive of the Lakeshore Horse Racing Association, was among the robust crowd that welcomed live harness racing back to Essex County on Sunday. “We’ve shown that we can do it,” said Bain, whose comments have come in an article by The Windsor Star.
“The Ontario Racing Commission gave us the four days so they could have a look how we do it and if could we pull it off and I think we’re proving that,” Bain said.
The Lakeshore Horse Racing Association is looking to eventually build a not-for-profit harness racetrack in Lakeshore. If Sunday was any indication, the fans are eager to get back watching and supporting the live product.
“Going forward, we have to put on the next three Sundays, and I feel very confident we can do that, and then we approach next year” said Bain. He later went on to say, “we’ll move forward, looking towards a much bigger meet next year.”
“It’s tremendous to be able to have a local track here where it is going to help the economy so much, and it’s great to be able to have that knowledge that you can work with young horses and have a place locally where you can train them, get them ready to race them, hopefully, in the big time.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Leamington, click the following link: Sunday Results – Leamington Raceway.
(With files from The Windsor Star)
Some good trainers stabled at
Some good trainers stabled at Leamington and great horses got their start there.Trainers like Del MacTavish and Bert Madill horses like Jeramlah Hanover.Dares Direct to name a few all got their start in Leamington.
location location
location location location
leamington and the raceway a perfect match
GO BIG LEAGUE WITH EVERYTHING NOTED IN GARY'S NOTE,,,,leading to betting here in toronto via HPI..and you will win down there.
i spent many nights and days at Leamington Raceway....home of the great Hector Armstrong...
only wish the best for all down there.
jim cauchon
We raced two horses off the
We raced two horses off the trailer at Leamington Sunday and found it to be Big League... Why? Grassroots!! Looking after our grassroots! The efforts of people like Mark Williams working tirelessly to make things work and even more importantly his helpfulness and friendliness. This sport is about the horses not crunching numbers and blathering on endlessly about bets and odds. Bring the focus back to where it belongs with the horse. Has anyone else noticed that with the 'advent' of the 'catch' driver also came the demise of the sport. Aloofness or unfriendliness wins nobody over. Leamington made it comfortable to be there they are on the right track... great start guys, keep on it!
Ps: Tiocfaidh Ar La is Gaelic for 'Our day will come'! (psst! for the announcer, the pronunciation is 'Chuckie ar la').
Great show is right I had
Great show is right I had faith all along that it would get done.You made my day so now I can look forward to the next three sundays.It was good to see veteran drivers like Dave Downey,Mark Williams and Donny Rankin Jr along with the younger ones like Scott Wray and Mark MacQuarry.My friend Drew Ribble who is the trackman, as always had the track in great shape.So thanks to the Lakeshore Horse Raceway and. the Leamington Agriculteral Society for keeping harness racing alive in Essex County.See you next week!
good on you for getting some
good on you for getting some racing back your way. Almost twice the handle of other tracks on the same day. How was the take at Ceaser's yesterday?
Gary.... You said it well. In
Gary....
You said it well. In order to be treated at par with other tracks, the whole show from the tracks responsibility to that of the entertainers needs to be big league
The ratio of handle to purses is totally livable and other tracks need that ratio or its time to go.
Great show Leamington....foundation to build on has been laid.
I wish you luck to become a
I wish you luck to become a credible track in the future. To move forward if you ever plan on becoming a track that people will want to watch, you should have the following.
Live HD Video Feed
In House handicapping show
Video replays
Full fields
ADW for your track with good rebates
Charted lines for all horses (the NR for all horses except the winner in the charts is not going to cut it) Charts like yesterdays must be a thing of the past.
The days of putting on a low standard production must end in this industry if it is to ever launch into the future and prosper. The old ways of producing races must be laid out to pasture and a new high production standard must be set for all tracks in Ontario.
Yes you did,
Yes you did, congratulations.
I see opportunity here. Let's turn the 22nd of September each year into a featured race, a two-heat race, like the Little Brown Jug. We should call it "Harvest Day" or "Big Red Day" due to the tomato harvest. Get a suggestion box made up by the community, getting them involved in naming this prestigious day. Not to close any doors on re-building a new track. Perhaps we should ask the government for funding to re-build this facility. I think this race track can and will move forward without slot machines. Re-build the facility with the help from the government and they will come. (Modernization)
I'll Have Another
Ontario Needs Racing
Congratulations to Casie and the team, getting a horse to the Jug two years in a row is a feat. To win both is very remarkable, with or without Captaintreacherous. I believe getting back for a hat-trick would be greater than wining the triple crown.
(I'llHaveAnother Ontario need Racing)
Not to be forgotten - What a Pet Rock
What a stretch drive
What a World Record