British Columbian horsepeople are not taking the limited, six-month season of live racing at Fraser Downs lying down, as a protest and rally to drum up public support will take place in front of the racino this evening
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“We’re hoping to ruffle some feathers,” said owner/trainer Sandra Roberts has been quoted as saying in an article by the Cloverdale Reporter. Roberts has been steadfast in recent weeks against the actions of the Great Canadian Gaming Corp., the operator of the raceway.
The article also explains that the local horsepeople suffered another blow on Tuesday, May 3, in that 12 conditional dates from the fall racing calendar have not been approved, thus bringing the total number of race days in 2011 to just 68. In 2009/2010, there were 107.
Harness Racing BC CEO Doug McCallum, a former mayor of Surrey, was quoted as saying that local businesses will be joining the protest tonight.
“The main focus on this is that we want our 10-month, two-times-a-week racing schedule for 2012, then we can get our breeders breeding again, and we’ll roll up the sleeves and we’ll do the work.”
(With files from the Cloverdale Reporter)
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Way to go Sandra and team.
Way to go Sandra and team. You deserve a big round of applause!!!!
It was announced at last
It was announced at last nights rally that as of Jan. 2012 we will get 10 months of racing. The details of this announcement are still being worked out. Racing at Fraser Downs is showing good signs of improvements. Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen.