Ontario Harness Horse Association Director Dave Gibson is an optimist. The Peterborough-area horseman is well aware that Kawartha Downs has performed well as of late, despite limited purses and race dates. Although, Gibson would be the first to tell you that something has got to change – and soon – if the track is to survive for much longer.
Taylor Clysdale of Peterborough This Week recently discussed the uncertain future that the track is facing as it heads into the 2018 campaign of live racing.
On the heels of a strong 2017 live campaign in which it hosted 18 race dates and brought in new ownership and a new general manager, Kawartha applied for 40 live race dates for the 2018 season, despite the region’s new gaming operator, Ontario Gaming East Limited Partnership, intending to relocate the track’s gaming offerings to the new Shorelines facility in Peterborough. Ontario Racing later denied the track’s request for 40 race dates in 2018, which has led to much feedback and fireworks at Queens Park.
Despite all of the challenges that Kawartha has had to face in recent years, the Peterborough-area track has still been able to draw fans to the track and keep the on-track wagering flowing.
“We’ve always had great crowds,” Gibson told Peterborough This Week.
The article also contains feedback from longtime Kawartha horseman Doug Hie and training centre owner Kevin Isaac, who have articulated how the scrapping of the Slots at Racetracks Program had a significantly negative affect on the local agriculture business.
(With files from Peterborough This Week)