Increases in wagering and attendance highlighted opening day at the Fort Erie Race Track. The historic border oval opened its doors for the 119th season of live racing on Tuesday, May 31. Thousands of fans turned out for an exciting eight race card filled with great racing, delicious food and plenty of entertainment.
Total betting for the day exceeded one million dollars, an increase of close to 10 percent over opening day in 2015, with one fewer race.
“We started off the way we finished last year with another million-dollar day, with the total handle being $1,190,703.42,” said Tom Valiquette, chief operating and financial officer of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium.
The first horse to cross the finish line on opening day was Mt. Gayego, trained by Nicholas Gonzalez and ridden to victory by veteran jockey Christopher Griffith, returning $6.20 to her backers.
“It was pretty easy, she just went right to the lead and kept on going,” said Griffith, who rode in five races throughout the day and took the victory in two. “I actually wasn’t going to ride until about a month ago when I started to get back in shape, and it’s a good thing because I had a good opening day.”
Griffith has been riding for 28 years, and is returning to Fort Erie this summer as a full time rider for the first time since 2011. “I haven’t been here full time for four years now, so it’s nice to come back and get off to a good start.”
On the track, jockeys Kirk Johnson, Sunny Singh, Helen Vanek, Melanie Pinto and Gerry Olguin all had one victory each to start off the season in Fort Erie.
The next live racing day will be Tuesday, June 7, followed by a free concert at the Tiki Bar featuring the Ashlynne Vince Band. Sunday racing begins on June 12 at 1:50 p.m. Arrive early and visit the Farmers Market, running every Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until the final race.
Fort Erie will host 40 race dates on Tuesdays and Sundays from May 31 to Oct. 18, with the 81st running of the Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel in Canada’s Triple Crown, taking place on Tuesday, July 26.
Parking and admission at the Fort Erie Race Track are always free.
For more information on live racing dates and special events, visit www.forterieracing.com.
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