Fort Erie Race Track has overcome adversity before and it’s a good bet the popular Ontario track will again, but right now, just days away from taking entries for its first card of racing for 2026, the future is shaky.
The 129th season for Fort Erie begins on May 31 with a first race post time of 12:15 p.m. The track has 34 dates for 2026, considerably lower than previous years, but shaving some days off the calendar was done due to the low horse population and to get bigger fields for the races. The track’s signature race is the second jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales Stakes, which will be run on Monday, September 7.
For years, Fort Erie has overcome possible closure, which all started when the Ontario Lottery and Gaming removed the slot machines from the track in 2012. The property was sold by Nordic Gaming in 2014 to Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino and a group of partners, while the racing is run by the Fort Erie Racing Consortium, made up of concerned horsepeople. As one of 14 racetracks in Ontario, Fort Erie now benefits from some funding from the government, as do the other tracks such as Woodbine and Mohawk, which helps keep hundreds of direct and indirect workers employed.
“The province has been a good partner these past seven years, and with more than 10 years still remaining in the province’s 19-year commitment to the horse racing industry, we should continue to enjoy a good working relationship that encourages a strong and healthy horse racing industry into the future, commensurate with their funding commitments,” said FELRC’s CEO, Jim Thibert.
An addition to the funding agreement for Ontario’s tracks was recently approved by the OLG and Ontario Racing; however, it has not been agreed to by Woodbine Entertainment, which is cause for pause for Fort Erie and other Ontario tracks. The agreement was in place in late November but still, the industry waits.
“If we can’t get those purses up, if we can’t get horsemen … we have to start letting people go if we can’t keep the lights on,” James Culic, Fort Erie Race Track’s communications manager, told CBC Niagara.
Culic emphasized that this year’s season will not be affected and Fort Erie’s general manager Drew Cady is keen on the start of the season.
“We believe strongly in the province’s Destination Niagara strategy, and this race calendar puts us in a good position to be one of Niagara’s premier tourist destinations this summer. We’re inviting racing enthusiasts, families, and tourists alike to experience the excitement of live thoroughbred racing in one of the most beautiful settings in Canada.”
From the family-friendly fun at the Wiener Dog Races to the pomp and circumstance of the 91st running of the historic Prince of Wales Stakes, the track’s schedule is tailored to provide a full season of events that both the hardcore Thoroughbred fan and the horse racing newcomer can both enjoy.
CBC Niagara story here.
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