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Harness racing has been suspended at Surreyâs Fraser Downs because of COVID-19 financial pressure, leaving 135 workers unemployed.
Harness Racing B.C. says as the province enters year two of the pandemic, horse racing in the Fraser Valley is facing difficult times.
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âBecause of COVID, weâve been forced to suspend all racing indefinitely after the last race tonight and 135 workers will be unemployed,â said Nigel Holmes, executive director of Harness Racing B.C., in a statement Friday.
Harness racing has been a fixture at Fraser Downs in Surrey for many decades, supporting decent livelihoods for families and an agricultural way of life. But as B.C. enters year two of the COVID-19 pandemic, horse racing in the Fraser Valley is facing difficult times.
“Because of COVID, we’ve been forced to suspend all racing indefinitely after the last race tonight and 135 workers will be unemployed,” said Nigel Holmes, executive director of Harness Racing BC. “We have no choice we’ve literally run out of money to operate at the track.
“It means our regular spring racing meet will end early, and prospects are not good for our regular fall meet, unless we are able to negotiate some form of short term COVID financial support from the BC government,” Holmes said.
Kneedeep N Custard came within two-fifth’s of a second from matching the all-time track record Friday evening at Fraser Downs thanks to his 1:50.4 triumph in the $12,000 Open Handicap for pacers.
Trainer/driver Kelly Hoerdt got away last with Kneedeep N Custard while race favourite Tiempo Hanover shot to the top and whizzed through wicked fractions of :27, :54 and 1:21. Hoerdt had his charge on the move from last while a little more than a final quarter of the contest remained, and thanks to a :29-second closing kick Kneedeep N Custard was able to draw away to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Tiempo Hanover in 1:50.4. Armycaptin Hanover was third.
After a facile score last week in her 2021 debut, Jodi Loftus Chase The Ace ($3.40) coasted to a new lifetime mark in Wednesday s (April 14) edition of the $12,000 Fillies and Mares Open/optional claiming handicap at Fraser Downs.
Trainer-driver Brandon Campbell took his time with Chase The Ace, settling her fourth in the five-mare field while Rockin Mystery (Rod Therres) controlled early splits of :28.4 and :56.3. With three-eighths to go, Chase The Ace moved second-over in an attempt to follow the cover of Paperback Thriller (Brad Watt), but was forced three-wide into the far turn after Paperback Thriller failed to advance.
Once Campbell tipped the five-year-old daughter of Armbro Baylor off stalled cover, though, she switched gears at once. Chase The Ace steadily advanced through the final turn and strode powerfully to a 1:52.3 victory. Cusdmagicdragon (Kelly Hoerdt) saved second from the pocket, 1-3/4 lengths back; a tiring Rockin Mystery faded to third after giving way in upp
On the heels of a near miss and a runner-up performance in last week’s top class at Fraser Downs, Armycaptin Hanover marched right back into battle Friday evening and came away victorious in the $12,000 Open Pace.
Armycaptin Hanover was allowed to get away last in the six-horse affair while Just A Start led the field through fractions of :27.3 and :54.4 while being pressed by race favourite Kneedeep N Custard. Dontpokethedragon then applied first-over pressure on Just A Start late in the mile and Armycaptin Hanover was able to slip out and catch that foe’s cover.
Scott Knight rallied Armycaptin Hanover home in :29.1, and that was just enough to earn the Kelly Hoerdt trainee the victory by a nose over Dontpokethedragon in 1:53.4. Just A Start was beaten that same margin while taking home third prize.