Officials with Horse Racing New Brunswick have released a statement in regard to the September 9 race date which has been announced for Fredericton Raceway.
Standardbred Canada would like everyone to be aware that the special event at Fredericton Raceway on September 9, 2017 is not a sanctioned race card by the Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission. This special one-time program is considered Matinee or Exhibition Racing.
As such, the card will not be officiated by the APHRC, and entries, results, racelines, times, and money distributed will not be recorded by Standardbred Canada.
The contents of the HRNB release appear below.
Working Together For The Greater Good: HRNB Statement
Earlier this summer a dedicated group of horsemen formed the Fredericton 130 to put on some matinee racing at Canada's oldest racetrack. The date selected was September 9 and while HRNB was disappointed to learn of the date selected it understood the significance as this was the closing day for the New Brunswick exhibition.
In an effort to promote as much racing opportunities with no government support whatsoever, HRNB after consulting the NBSBOA decided to move the September 9 race card to later in September (approvals pending by regulators). It was felt that this would enable those members who wished to, the opportunity to race in Fredericton.
Further, at the request of the Fredericton 130 group HRNB has agreed to loan its starting gate to ensure a safe event for all the horsepeople.
HRNB wishes to remind the horse world that although the circumstances with Fredericton exhibition limited have led to the withdrawal of HRNB as a tenant on the grounds, HRNB stands with all horse people in New Brunswick in hopes that a unified industry will endure these troubled times.
Reminder: Next race date at EPR is scheduled for September 2, followed by another date at EPR on September 16.