When the announcement of a planned south Surrey casino came to light this past summer in BC, local businesses loyal to Fraser Downs let it be known that they were against the expansion due to the assumed detrimental affect on the raceway and their businesses. Now, showing that it is possible to have different enterprises coexist in a fair and civil manner, the raceway, business community and casino interests all seem to have found a symbiotic arrangement.
As explained in an article by the Cloverdale Reporter, the Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce and the Cloverdale Business Improvement Association issued a joint statement on Monday, December 3 in support of the proposed $100-million gaming undertaking.
The report has also cited Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce President Addison Hubert as saying that a 10-year contract extension will be implemented, which will see racing operations continue at both Fraser Downs and Hastings Park. The article states that BC's provincial minister for gaming, Rich Coleman, has confirmed the extension.
The report states that the BCLC is also working on creating a new Sports Bet Marketing program, which will be ultimately unveiled at the Fraser Downs facility, and that the BC Horse Racing Industry Management Committee is supposed to outline a five-year plan, providing stability for the industry along with new operational models.
In addition to the positive news regarding all south Surrey players playing nice, Cloverdale Reporter has also published a story stating that the 2013 schedule of live racing at Fraser Downs has been finalized.
The story states that there will be 10 months of racing, consisting of 82 race dates over 39 weeks. The 82 dates are the same amount of days that the track held in 2012.
The report states that the 2013 campaign will begin January 1 and run through until May 11. After a hiatus, live racing at Fraser will return August 17 and run through until December 29.
It is expected that the schedule will be formally announced after the BC thoroughbred schedule is approved.
(With files from the Cloverdale Reporter)