Over $1.65 million in bets on opening day for Fort Erie Race Track

Fort Erie Race Track is off and running, as they say in the five-dollar seats.

Under glorious weather on May 31, the track kicked off its 125th season as more than 5,000 people came through the turnstiles to catch a day of races, free giveaways and a concert by local rockers Jonesy.

Over $1.65 million was wagered on the ten-race card – a record number for opening day – apart from the 2020 season where Fort Erie Race Track was one of the first tracks in North America to start running without spectators after closures due to COVID -19.

“It was great to see so many of our loyal fans and new customers at our opening day. Everyone was happy to be back to racing and in person events. It was a great kickoff to our 125th anniversary season,” Drew Cady, general manager of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium, told online racing publication Blood Horse.

The very first winner across the finish line in Race One was Erratique, ridden by jockey Helen Vanek and trained by Nick Mileni Jr. for owner Colebrook Farms. She paid $5.20 to the bettors that took her.

“She’s a nice little filly who ran her heart out. She was at Penn National all winter preparing for this season. We appreciate owner John Burness from Colebrook Farms supporting our racing here at Fort Erie,” Vanek  told Blood Horse.

Vanek has called Fort Erie Race Track her home since 1997. “It is great to be back at the home oval. It is nice seeing fans back and having a blast. It feels good to be back to normal.”

The opening day card was highlighted by the Summer Solstice Cup and the Sprint into Summer Cup, both $30,000 maiden stake races.

The Summer Solstice Cup was won by Natasha’s Bizniz and jockey Kirk Johnson, trained by Barrington Siddo for owner Radcliffe Racing Stable. She returned $21.70 to her backers.

M V Speed and jockey Pierre Mailhot were first across the wire in the Sprint into Summer Cup for trainer Richard Davis and Bruno Schickedanz, returning $13.40 to win.

The next race day is Tuesday, June 7 at 4:05 p.m. Racing will run primarily Mondays and Tuesdays through to October 18, with some exceptions for special event Sundays.

More information about the 2022 racing and special event schedule can be found at www.forterieracing.com.