Published:
June 2, 2014 05:50 pm EDT
The Ontario Racing Commission has released a Notice to the Industry announcing the decision to approve the schedule of 2014 race dates for Kawartha Downs and Dresden Raceway.
This announcement brings the total of 2014 approved race dates to 939 across Quarter-Horse, Thoroughbred and Standardbred breeds.
In addition the Director approved September 1 as a make-up date for Rideau Carleton Raceway (RCR).
During the 2013-2014 period, RCR cancelled two race dates: January 14 and March 20, where no races were run due to unsafe track conditions. The Transfer Payment Agreement with government allows for one cancellation during the period of the contract, leaving one cancelled race date that RCR had to make-up.
Dresden 2014 Race Dates
Kawartha 2014 Race Dates
(ORC)
Opening night promotion
Opening night promotion
College night
Free bus service from area colleges
Free program
Free $10 betting voucher
$1.00 beer coupon with each $5.00 wager with Student ID
$1.00 hotdogs and hamburgers for all
Free tour of the backstretch to see the horses
Free rides in the starters car
You have 2 weeks to get it organized.
Will there be a rewards programs for people betting KD?
Will KD be simulcast on HPI? (as of yet they are not on the list for June 21)
Does KD have new video production?
What time does the handicapping show begin and whose doing it?
Will there be a purse over $4,000?
Will there be an Open pace?
Will they have $2,000 claimers?
Everything I've read from the
Everything I've read from the "select" committee of consultants and new chair of the O.R.C. was they wanted to promote the live event aspect to entice new customers and hopefully grow the wagering (although it's almost that they want to keep wagering on horse racing a big secret).
Live,special events, extravaganzas whatever they want to call it events are 1 -offs good for generating buzz, excitement and hopefully large crowds. However the percentage of patrons who return let alone wager in the future is very small.
The bettors expecting simulcast at KD - forget it, live handle only, heck the punters in this area unless you have an account haven't had any offtrack facility for more than a year - and nobody in any of the regulatory agencies seemed to care. Talk about alienating your customers.
Scheduling is
Scheduling is EVERTHING
Sunday at Georgian Downs the last race had a 7 horse field(no scratches) and the 1 dollar superfecta paid under 5 bucks.
Sunday Clinton paid out 35 thou in purses(not including maintenance/wages/etc) and made 5 thou, for a loss of 30 thou.
Dresden is going to race on Sunday afternoons against 30 other tracks.LOL
Kawartha Downs is going to run on Saturday nights against 20 tracks.LOL
After 10 years Western Fair has realized it's more lucrative to run on Wednesdays than Fridays.
In reply to Scheduling is by rob irving
KD was racing Tues and Sat
KD was racing Tues and Sat when SARP was active. They would generate 80 to 100K in handle Tuesdays with a 4.30 PM start and a 20K handle on Saturday evenings competing against the big tracks. So what do the 3 wise men do ? Schedule KD racing every Saturday night x 18 times. BRILLIANT !
This is fantastic-KD will be
This is fantastic-KD will be running on the night where Mohawk will be hosting the fastest horses on their circuit. The people tuning in and betting on KD will be through the roof-In case anyone missed it-yes I am being facetious.
This is a set up to show how little betting there will be at these two tracks and how our industry cannot sustain ourselves. Here is the real problem. We are so thankful for this bone we won't even complain.
KD can be special and better but not on Saturday night.
Georg Leber-ICR Racing