More details regarding the future of Fort Erie Race Track will be announced during a press event today (Wednesday, September 24).
A report by Bullet News Niagara states that Fort Erie Mayor Doug Martin and Jeff Leal, Ontario's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will attend the afternoon event.
Track officials have been cited as saying that Wednesday’s event will be in regard to the future of the Thoroughbred track, its 2015 season of live racing, and beyond.
In August, a new ownership group, led by Buffalo developer Carl Paladino, was introduced, but few details were announced with regard to the sale and what the future holds for the border oval.
The Toronto Star reported in August that the purchase included the 130-acre racetrack, but not the track operation, which will continue to be leased to and managed by the nonprofit Fort Erie Live Racing Commission. The Star had reported Paladino as saying that the racetrack must be able to stand alone, without depending on financing from the new owners.
Paladino said in August that “the development that we bring will hopefully be good for the track, for the community, for Buffalo,” said Paladino.
He went on to say, “We hope with the NASCAR track and some of the development pieces we intend to do, it’ll make the area more attractive. These developments will hopefully add a vigour to the economy in Fort Erie and obviously be very beneficial to Buffalo.”
(With files from Bullet News Niagara and the Toronto Star)