The 250th anniversary of horse racing in Canada is a significant milestone that our industry has the opportunity to celebrate.
The Fan Club received several submissions with many great ideas to celebrate this occasion and they will be passed along to racetracks and associations across the country providing inspiration when planning their 250 events.
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After much consideration, the judges selected Frank Charamonte of Stouffville, Ont., as the winner for his idea to bring harness racing back to the fairs where harness racing once lived.
Here is Frank’s submission:
To celebrate 250 years I would bring "fair racing" back to the fall fairs in Ontario that have a venue for harness racing, organizing a one or two-day meet during their fair. Some examples could include the Markham Fairgrounds and Port Perry Fairgrounds. Today, both sit empty during fair season since harness racing at fairs was taken away. Bringing it back and showcasing the product and history to new families and young children to teach them about the history of the sport could possibly get them involved someday as drivers, trainers or grooms. I remember as a young child sitting in the stands at those fairgrounds and the look of "awe" on my face as I watched the horses come charging down the stretch. The I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club could also be at the fairs to promote racing and talk about its history to a new crop of people who haven’t experienced it before. Pari-mutuel wagering could be offered, drivers and trainers could interact with the fans, horses could be jogged during breaks and tours of the backstretch could be offered. Bringing back racing to its roots could give it life once again in 2017 and would celebrate the 250th anniversary of horse racing in Canada.
Frank has been involved with harness racing since he was a young boy, going with his father to Greenwood Raceway where he worked as a mutuel teller. Years later Frank followed in his father’s footsteps also getting a job at Greenwood in the late 80’s and early 90’s and he’s been hooked ever since.
“I have always loved the sounds and excitement that the racetrack would bring, from the smell of the food at the concessions to the horses pounding their way down the stretch and the people cheering on their horses.”
Although Greenwood no longer exists, Frank still has many memories that he will keep with him for a lifetime.
“Back in the day at Greenwood I would love watching a horse called Shady Hill Pride race, this horse would always get away at the back of the field and would be more or less last by the 3/4 pole, but then all of the sudden the driver would tip this amazing horse to the outside and like a train he would get into another gear and unleash an amazing amount of speed to win the race from last to first more often than not.”
This summer Charamonte will travel with his wife to enjoy live harness racing at Georgian Downs, Hanover, Clinton and Grand River Raceway.
For winning Frank will receive a swag package of Fan Club and 250 merchandise and a $50 gift certificate to Woodbine Racetrack, the Canadian harness racetrack of his choice.
The Fan Club would like to thank everyone who submitted their ideas and suggestions. We have created a list with the best ideas and will be sharing them with racetracks and associations across the country to give them inspiration for The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame's 250 miles for 250 years initiative.