The Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium (FELRC) Board of Directors decided to apply to the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) for a 40 day race schedule for 2016.
The 2016 race season will have a similar race calendar, purses and operations as the 2015 race season. Start and end dates may be adjusted as the staff work out the detailed operational strategy.
“The Board of Directors of the FELRC made a commitment when they took over the failing racetrack to ensure our horse people, our staff and our fans knew before each current year-end about the following seasons race program”, said James Thibert, FELRC CEO.
“The strong performance improvements this year from increased wagering, increases in fans, the stronger US dollar and cost- management controls allowed the Board to make this decision in spite of cost-of-living increases and some serious reductions in partner contributions”, said Thibert.
“Our strong metrics are the result of increased confidence in the future of the Fort Erie Race Track”, said Thibert, “and this is all due to a strong management team, experienced horse racing community, staff and fans”.
“We really need to increase revenues at a faster pace”, said Thibert, “and that would mean support from the Province in line with the return of gaming to Fort Erie. This is particularly keen when the US dollar is at a premium and would support additional forms of gaming”.
Fort Erie has 2 more race days remaining for the 2015 season. Post times have been changed to 1:30pm for Sunday, October 18th and Tuesday, October 20th, 2015.
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