Fort Erie To Build New Main Track

Fort Erie in Ontario will construct a new one-mile main track at the conclusion of this year's live meet Sept. 6.

Plans for the track were finalized after discussions between the Ontario Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and Nordic Gaming Corp., owner of Fort Erie. John Passero's racetrack consulting company will build the new racing surface.

According to a Fort Erie press release, Nordic Gaming Corp. has made capital investments in excess of $50 million in the Fort Erie racing and gaming facility. That investment has allowed racing operations to grow from a 400-horse population in 1998 with $5 million paid in purses, to this past season when over 1,300 horses on the grounds and close to $23 million in purses were paid out.