Wallacetown Fair Director of Racing John Lilley has announced the conditions and classes for the fair's program of live racing, which is scheduled for Friday, September 30. Lilley has also explained that some adjustments have been made this year to try to entice a younger demographic to the races
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"The fair is taking place September 30, October 1 and 2," Lilley told Trot Insider. "Our races will be held Friday at 7:30 p.m., and this will be the 136th year of harness racing at the fair. We are trying a new day and time slot for the races this year, thus breaking the long tradition of Saturday afternoon races."
Lilley stated that entertainment is very hard to find for the budgets that the small fairs have, so the fair has decided to move the races to Friday night for entertainment. He said that lights have been rented to light up the track and there will be pari-mutuel wagering for the first time in many years.
"We are hoping to entice not only the regular crowd, but the younger generation to enjoy a night at the races," Lilley said. "The complete grandstand and area will be licensed along with our beer tent. For those with younger children, the midway will be open with many rides and games. I ask all horsemen and friends to bring the whole family for a night of racing and entertainment."
The fair will be hosting eight races (four double heats). Lilley told Trot Insider that three double heats and two single races can be accommodated if needed, but stabling is limited.
"We usually have pacers, $4,500 claimers or less, no claiming, just for classification purposes," Lilley said. "I’m hoping for the same class for trotters. We usually have a maiden or non-winners class for younger horses starting out (they are also classified). The purpose of this is to try to have all the horses compatible and no one outstanding, thus giving our horsemen equal opportunity to win and our patrons a better variety at the windows where they can wager without being a pro at betting and still win."
The entry box for the races will close Sunday, September 25 at 3:00 p.m.
For entries, call Lilley at 519-857-4506 or contact him by email at [email protected] with horses name, trainer and driver and contact number for confirmation of entry.
It is great to hear that a
It is great to hear that a Southern Ontario Fall fair is taking initiative to market and specifically grow the sport at a grass roots level. Also for putting the word "families" in the same sentence as harness racing. Small rural fair boards have always supported and promoted the industry while losing money doing so.
Standardbred Canada and similar industry associations should be embarrassed that they don't fully fund the purses, and fair parimutuels in their marketing budget so that every small town fair can hold racing as part of their fairs - most fair-boards would rather turned under the tracks in favor of soccer fields because holding races looses them money.
Congratulations to Wallacetown for all their hard-work. I'll see you Friday the 30th.