This afternoon, Trot Insider spoke with Gerard Landry regarding Sunday's live card of racing at Hippodrome de Montreal, and the subsequent Sunday cards which will be hosted in the following weeks.
"Given the situation, it was a very good day," said Landry, Attractions Hippiques' vice president, Racing.
Landry said that the 12-race program produced a handle in excess of $137,000. "We had two days to put the program together and had called simulcasting outlets beginning the Wednesday (September 3) before."
Landry said that given the short window to get Montreal's signal out to simulcast outlets, he was pleased with the day. According to Landry, attendance at the track was good, and fans were glad to see racing back at the seven-eighths mile racetrack.
"Customers came up to me and told me that they were very happy to see racing back on the track," said Landry. "There is no doubt about that. I was there, and to see those horses out there competing made many, many people happy."
Given the tight timeframe in terms of promotion and signal distribution, Landry told Trot Insider that the card went off well, considering the variables. Journal de Montreal was able to advance the card and the Woodbine Entertainment Group's Horseplayer Interactive platform was a notable outlet able to simulcast the action. Although, given the late notice, Landry said that a large portion of the wagering public probably didn't know that Montreal was up and running for a pari-mutuel card.
"We usually announce our race schedule 15 days before the end of the month," Landry explained. "Therefore, simulcast outlets are able to make the proper arrangements to pick up our signal. In this case, we announced that we would be sending out a signal very late in the month. Some outlets, like WEG, were able to fit us in, while other smaller distributors were not, which given the timeframe was understandable."
Landry explained to Trot Insider that Montreal's next two cards will probably not be taken by all of its regular partners because of existing contracts for the month of September, but he is expecting for the October cards to be carried extensively.
In looking forward to the next card of racing at Hippodrome de Montreal (Sunday, September 14), Landry has said that an abundance of two-year-olds will be participating in Distinction Stakes. Landry told Trot Insider that sometimes big bettors shy away from juvenile events, but he did state that many of the horses that are expected to contest the Sunday card have got many races under their belts.
Racing resumed at Hippodrome de Montreal on Sunday after provincial horsemen overwhelmingly approved a tentative agreement to present 13 cards of Sunday racing from September 7 to November 30.
To view the charted lines from the Sunday card, click here.