September 26th, 2017
Autumn has arrived and the Backstretch at Fraser Downs is a busy hub of activity with getting close to 300 horses in training and gearing up for another exciting year of Harness Racing in Cloverdale, The Harness Racing Capital of B.C.
We have horses from across the Province, Alberta, Ontario and from as far away as Prince Edward Island converging on Fraser Downs for our 41st year of Standardbred Harness Racing here in Cloverdale.
- Our nation is celebrating 250 Years of Horse Racing and we have some special events planned throughout the season for our loyal fans. Be sure to find us in the Homestretch on Thursday evenings in October for Throwback Thursday where we will have special and nostalgic gifts for our fans!
- To make up some of our missed race days earlier in the season will see our athletes racing on Tuesdays October 3, 17, 24 and 31 starting at 6:00 pm. Racing is a 6:00 pm on Thursday evenings in October and 7:00 start time on Fridays in October.
- November sees Fraser Downs Harness Racing return to Friday night horse racing at 7:00 pm and Sunday afternoons at 12:45 pm. Our special day for the BC Breeders’ Classic will be held Saturday November 11th (Remembrance Day) starting at 12:45 pm!
- The Fraser Downs Horse Racing Club has increased our fan and horse ownership base, and many new friendships have been forged. No Pelo Blue Chip makes her return as the Race Club Horse and fans have been watching her progress for the last few months in the Backstretch.
- The World Driving Championships were held across Canada at various racetracks this past summer with the final leg going in Prince Edward Island and a hometown boy from PEI, won on Canadian home soil to an enthusiastic crowd of harness racing fans – a first for Canada and extremely exciting competitions for harness racing fans around the world – well done James MacDonald – the World Driving Champion!
As we continue to negotiate our course for the future, we’ve captured back most of April into the race meet and will continue to push for more harness racing months in the Province as we make our case for the sustainability and prosperity of our horse sport into the future.
We’re proud and conscious of the economic impact and wide array of jobs we provide to our rural and urban economies throughout the Province of B.C.
Repositioning ourselves and reinvigorating interest in our sport with genuine determination is a challenge we are up to. Our Standardbred horses drive our passion for the future of harness racing, and we know that all who come our way will join our contagious enthusiasm!
Harness the Passion!!
Carla Robin
Executive Director
HARNESS THE VISION...At Harness Racing BC, we strive to provide quality, exciting races to increase revenue for our industry participants and the government. Harness Racing in Cloverdale contributes substantially to the BC economic sectors more than most sports and entertainment through job creation in a variety of sectors - agriculture, hospitality, tourism and careers directly related to working with the horses in the racing industry
