Harness racing is set to return to Fredericton Raceway on Sunday, September 8 after a two-year hiatus. Post time is set for 1:30 p.m.
In 2017, a matinee race card was held to commemorate the 130th year of racing at the present site on the New Brunswick Provincial Exhibition Grounds and, the event attracted a large crowd for the 10-dash card.
Fredericton Horseman's Association President Charlie Miles stated that negotiations with the New Brunswick Standardbred Owners & Breeders Association, NBEX and other governing bodies began last spring.
Organization, fundraising and planning began in earnest earlier this summer, with all parties agreeing to host this event.
Miles stated, "We have received tremendous support from the community and, we are very close to our fundraising goals. It's great to know that there is still support for harness racing in Fredericton and, we hope that we can build on this support moving forward."
Invitations have been sent out to horsepeople around the Maritime provinces, Quebec and Maine and, so far, the response has been very positive.
Unlike the 2017 race card, pari-mutuel wagering will be available. The feature for the ten dash card will be the $3,500 Jennie & Joe Chippin Memorial Pace, along with the other nine races.
Miles states, "We are hoping for a great turnout. It has been a lot of work to pull this off but, I feel confident that it will be a very entertaining afternoon of racing."
(FHA)
It would be nice to have
It would be nice to have everyone work together. My husband and I always put our horses in to go in Fredericton year after year to support Fredericton. We trucked week after week from Saint John to help fill cards but we haven't had anybody contact us to help fill their card this year. We have been invited to invitional races in Charlottetown, and an invitational in Woodstock and Saint John, but no invitation from Fred, and that's so sad, and that hurts the sport and shows nothing is changing - but I hope they have a great day and attract a big crowd.