Printed by the Review
Owners lining up to race at Fort track
Posted By JOHN ROBBINS
Last week, the Fort Erie Race Track announced there will indeed be live racing this year.
On Thursday, the track confirmed they have enough horses to run the races.
Track spokesman Daryl Wells said more than 1,000 applications have been received for stalls at the track so far with the possibility of more coming in still.
That’s fewer than the 1,400 applications the track had at this time last year – but welcome news, considering it wasn’t until last week that track owner Nordic Gaming confirmed it was committed to 80 days of live racing this season.
“Right now, we’re looking at about 1,030 horses to be stabled at Fort Erie this year,” Wells said. “That could go a little more or a little less, but we’re quite happy with the applications. We’re quite comfortable going in – not elated – but it looks like we’re going to have a good season.”
Fort Erie Mayor Doug Martin was similarly pleased with the number of applications, given earlier worries that the length of time it was taking to get confirmation that the racing season was a go might cause owners to take their horses elsewhere.
“It’s good news,” said Martin, adding he had been told at least 850 stall applications were needed to make the season successful. “I guess (horse owners) must have faith at what’s going on in Fort Erie and they want to come back here.”
Martin and Jim Thibert, general manager of the Fort Erie Economic Development and Tourism Corp., recently flew to New York City to meet with a representative of the the Tsuvah Group, which owns Nordic Gaming, to confirm ownership is willing to take a loss to subsidize racing purses in 2008 while the province works out a strategy to assist Ontario’s horse racing industry.
A decline in revenues from the government-operated Slots at the Fort Erie Race Track has caused purses to fall in recent years.
In 2002, purses amounted to roughly $16 million during the 100 days of racing. Last year, there was about $4 million in purse money to cover the 84-day season.
Based on stall applications so far, Wells said there is at least one more reason to be optimistic: New blood.
“We have some newcomers – I’d say about five to 10 trainers who haven’t been here before from various locations in the (United) States.
“They make up about 50 horses,” Wells said.
With files by Jennifer Pellegrini
jrobbins@nfreview.com
Article ID# 922330
© 2008 , Osprey Media. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Niagara Falls Review acticles reprinted with permission by the authority of Joe Wallace, City Editor of the Niagara Falls Review.
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