The London, ON half-mile track posted record handle for the second straight fiscal year.

by Matthew Lomon

After posting record wagering totals for a second consecutive Ontario Racing fiscal year, The Raceway at The Western Fair District heads into the spring sporting the same mindset that’s propelled the half-mile track to prestigious heights.

“We’ve been pretty proud of the handle numbers that we’ve been able to achieve over the years,” said Greg Blanchard, director of equine programming at Western Fair. “When you look at the Ontario landscape, we’ve been able to work up into that No. 2 spot for harness racing wagering behind Woodbine Mohawk Park and that’s something we’re proud of.”

During its impressive 2023-24 season, the London, ON oval saw a total of $58,468,000 wagered across 121 race dates.

Compared to the previous handle record set the year prior ($56,709,000), that’s an increase of three per cent year-over-year. Per race handle also grew by three per cent in that time.

While Blanchard acknowledged the post-pandemic resurgence that saw total handle rise across the Canadian standardbred circuit (up 6.18 per cent to $646.3 million in 2023), he credited the Western Fair team for sticking to the formula that’s allowed the track to hold firm.

“We’ve been able to maintain our position, if you will, and that’s something we take pride in,” Blanchard said. “For a small half-mile track, that races in the wintertime, and in Ontario, to resonate with horseplayers the way we do is very meaningful to us.”

According to Blanchard, the recipe for success combines a helping of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ with a discerning eye for improvement opportunities.

“You’ve always got to be realistic,” he said. “When you look at the numbers right there [Western Fair and nationwide handle for 2023], I always say they’re never as good as some people think and they’re never as bad as some think. Again, you have to always take a deep dive into the numbers and see where that money’s coming from. Is it true growth and is it growth that can be sustained?

“At the end of the day, I think it is positive that overall wagering on Ontario racing has grown.”

Blanchard, who joined the 63-year-old raceway in 2010, believes it has fared well against some of the sport’s greatest challenges, including the proliferation of online sports betting.

That said, he’s well-aware of the need to swap out the rose-colored glasses for some more transparent lenses.

“One area where we’ve seen a decline since the pandemic is on our live on-track wagering,” he said. “You’re disappointed to see that but we look at it as an opportunity. In any circumstance, there lies opportunity, and we think that’s the case here.

“We’ll continue to focus on not only our overall product, but especially our on-track live audience. That’s something we want to focus on trying to grow again for the 2024 season.”

Despite the live handle concerns, Western Fair has performed well over the years. It hasn’t always been easy, but the racecourse has made a habit of persevering through challenging circumstances to bring high-quality racing to fans in Southwestern Ontario.

“We race in the most challenging conditions when you consider the time of year and that we’re racing in Ontario, and Mother Nature can throw almost everything at you,” Blanchard said. “We have a great track team that allows our participants to race the majority of the season.

“With the on-track product itself, there’s obviously certain limitations. We’re landlocked and we only go seven wide, meaning we’re limited to eight-horse fields as standard. Despite that, it’s a good product. We’ve got a very deep trainer and driver colony. The style of racing here I think resonates, there’s typically a lot of action. It’s very fair racing for a half-mile track, meaning horses can win from any position, and there’s a lot of flow in the races.”

Blanchard and Co. have been steadfast in upholding the Western Fair tradition, one prided on an unwavering commitment to the game and its people.

The groundwork for it, he noted, was established a long time ago.

“That resolve has been a part of the track’s character long before I was here, I don’t take credit for that,” he said. “Western Fair has punched outside its weight class for a long time, and our team is proud of that.”

The hits keep on rolling at the storied track, starting with its signature event, The Camluck Classic. Formerly known as the Molson Pace, and the Labatt before that, this year’s edition of the $150,000 event is scheduled for May 31.

As for what fans can expect with the unofficial-official kickoff to summer in London, Blanchard says the racing is the centerpiece but there’s going to be a little something for everybody.

“We just want it to be a fun, enjoyable night,” he said. “We’ll have food trucks. We’ll have live entertainment happening. Lots of places to get great food and beverages and lots of places to make your wagers, including an enhanced wagering menu.

“We just want to create the most enjoyable, fun atmosphere that night, and let the racing be the star of the show.”

Keeping the spotlight on the track shouldn’t be too difficult with a power-packed program that also features the City of London Series finals, the Forest City Pace, The London Classic Trot, and the first leg of the Ontario Sires Stakes.

Camluck Night will also mark the return of a more recent Western Fair tradition in the pre-race driver introductions. Blanchard noted that fans can also look forward to scoring some exciting prizes through a series of giveaways and contests running throughout the feature program.

In other off-track news, Western Fair recently acquired Dorchester Downs Training Centre, which sits about 20 kilometres east of The Raceway.

Inside the 49-acre property is a five-eighth’s-mile track, two barns with 100 stalls, and some of the largest stables in the area.

The Dorchester opportunity came about unexpectedly for Western Fair brass, but it was one Blanchard said his team couldn’t pass up.

“It’s a beautiful property,” Blanchard said. “It makes sense for Western Fair Association for a variety of reasons and we’re happy to be able to continue to support racing locally. We think it’s one of the nicest training centers anywhere in Canada.

“Our goal is to maintain it at a high level and make sure it’s as full as it can be to help support our live racing product here.”

London’s premier harness racing venue is slated to take over operations of Dorchester Downs Training Centre in early July.