It will be a two-way celebration for fans on and off track when Standardbred racing resumes at Fraser Downs on Thursday and Friday nights (March 30 and 31).
For starters, the Pick 5 Jackpot has reached $23,445 and Thursday will be the last chance for players to take down the whole pool as a single winner. If the Pick 5 Jackpot is not won on Thursday, there will be a mandatory payout of that entire pool on Friday to all winners. The Jackpot Pick 5 is offered on the last five races of the program that will start with Race 5 on Friday’s nine-race program.
In addition, the track will be offering a $10,000 guaranteed Pick 4 pool on Friday. The Pick 4 is available on the last four races of the program, which will begin with Race 6 on Friday.
Both pools have an industry low 15 per cent takeout and require only 20 cents to play.
“We are so pleased there has been renewed engagement from fans at Fraser Downs in 2023,” said Kelly MacMillan, President of Harness Racing B.C. “We wanted to show some appreciation for the support and felt that the timing would be ideal with Mohawk not racing this week.”
Adding to the excitement, Western Canada’s top harness racing driver Brandon Campbell continues to make headlines throughout the Standardbred industry with a string of victories that have left fans in awe and cheering for more at Fraser Downs.
They had plenty to applaud when Campbell dominated the card on March 23 winning the last six of eight races and came right back the following the night with five winners. Campbell says he sets a goal every year of 100 driving wins. He is well on his way to his 15th consecutive season, having finished first 78 times, including winning 55 races at Fraser Downs in just 117 starts, since Jan. 1.
Prior to those 11 wins in back-to-back cards at Fraser Downs last week, Campbell drove Outlaw C My Shadow to an eighth straight Open Pace victory for breeder/trainer Connie Kolthammer on March 17. They are hoping to extend that incredible record to nine in a row in Friday’s fourth race, the $10,000 Open Handicap Pace.
With the possibility of a single winner in Thursday’s Pick 5 or a mandatory Pick 5 payout on Friday along with the $10,000 guaranteed Pick 4, Fraser Downs will be a hub of activity on Greater Vancouver’s sports entertainment landscape. Start times on both nights are 7 p.m. Pacific Time.
To view this week's harness racing entries at Fraser Downs, click here.
(With files from TBC / BC Racebook)