[projekktor id=’11365′]
(Updated)
There will be another year of live horse racing at the Fort Erie Race Track. Funding for at least one more season was confirmed Friday. The news brought a huge sigh of relief in a town that depends on the track for survival.
Horse racing fan Bob Jacobs is at the off track betting parlour every day, and he’s elated that there will be at least one more season of live racing at Fort Erie: “I think it’s very wonderful. A lot of people are out of jobs. And they need jobs.”
The funding deal announced Friday gave track maintenance man Guy Robinson some hope. “I’m happy. I’ve got seven years till retirement. I want to do it right here.”
200 people work directly for the race track. And then there is another 500 working with the horses in the backstretch. The economic impact of horse racing in the town is huge.
Penny Passero’s family is in the horse business, and she’s happy to have at least another season of 400 races. “I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll get two.”
The Fort Erie live racing consortium is trying to negotiate a five-year deal.
“I don’t know why they can’t just make a deal and keep it open for good. It’s got history, this place.”
116 years of horse racing history to be exact.
They’re working on a racing calendar right now. So that means track employees and horse racing fans should know all the details by the end of the month.
