Officials at Fort Erie Racetrack for thoroughbreds are expected to be submitting a conditional application for 2009 race dates in the next couple of days. Also, the previously-announced expansion plans are being scuttled for the time being.
The update comes in an article by multiple Sovereign Award winner Perry Lefko in today's edition of The Toronto Star. Lefko explains that representatives from Fort Erie owner Nordic Gaming Corporation are submitting a conditional application for 78 race dates.
According to Nordic spokesman Stephen Ayers, the application is conditional on the track receiving "financial help from other stakeholders and interested parties in the track, failing which we (Nordic) reserve the right to cancel live racing at Fort Erie prior to the next race season (2009)."
Lefko explains that Nordic is hoping to receive financial support via a proposed new system that would see different percentages of slot machine revenues distributed between horsemen and track operators. The proposal, which is awaiting government approval, wouldn't come into affect until 2012 at the earliest.
The article also explains that due to the unstable global markets, Nordic's $300 million expansion project has been delayed.
To read The Toronto Star article in its entirety, click here.
(With files from The Toronto Star)