Prospects better for Fort Erie season

It appears the Fort Erie Race Track will be open for the 2014 season. A midnight lease renewal deadline has been relaxed by the facility’s owner — and track officials are currently in talks with the province to hammer out funding details. While nothing’s been finalized yet, a last minute decision by Fort Erie town council means the racing community can breath a little easier.

In a vote of 6 to 1, Fort Erie town council decided to grant $500 thousand to the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium.

Mayor Doug Martin: “This is getting them closer to the goal that they need to get to.”

They’re still asking for the province to step up its funding for the track.

Mayor Martin said: “Hopefully the province will sit up and take notice that we’re committed to make this thing work and we damn well expect them to be there too.”

Monday, the Liberals unveiled a plan to commit additional funding to Fort Erie Race Track over the next three years. No specific amount was given. It’s close to but not quite ten million dollars.

Initially, officials were doubtful the cash would allow for a full season of racing — but with a top up from the municipality, they’re feeling confident about the track’s future.

A complete schedule of over 40 races is crucial for trainers like Jeanne Ryan who have already invested in the season: “Myself and other horsemen have tried to replenish our supply of horses and get ready for a season on Kathleen Wynne’s word it was going to happen.”

They expected to know much sooner whether funding would come through. Jeanne said: “They spend more time arguing amongst themselves and worrying about their political image as opposed to doing their job.”

For horse people, track officials and the town of Fort Erie, that lost time has made the race to a 2014 season a nail biter. Manager of Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium, Jim Thibert, has been phoning back and forth with provincial officials and the company that owns the track property all evening. Monday night’s funding announcement from the town was enough to buy time to finalize a funding arrangement. They expect to make a decision about the upcoming season on Tuesday.