Fort Erie reduces racing dates for 2026
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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has approved a 34-day meet for Fort Erie this year, which is significantly shorter than the border track’s traditional 40-day meet. Opening day is scheduled for May 31 and the meet runs through Oct. 20 on a mostly Monday-Tuesday schedule beginning in late June, following a series of Sunday cards.
James Culic, Fort Erie’s manager of marketing and corporate communications, said the plan is to run the same number of races as in the past while strategically making the best of a declining horse population.
“Across North America, horse supply is becoming an issue at every track, so in order to facilitate the best possible outcomes for our horsemen, we have removed six midseason dates from the calendar,” Culic explained. “However, while we have slightly fewer race days, we have made a commitment to running the same number of total races this season, giving our horsemen a chance to be a part of larger field sizes in each race, which benefits both horsemen and our bettors.
“This tighter schedule also allows us to produce the best possible product during our special event days, when we have a large captive audience, so that we can maximize our wagering handle and better showcase our thoroughbred racing to as many people as possible.”
The highlight of Fort Erie’s 129th season is the 91st running of the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes. The middle leg of the Canadian Triple Crown will be run a little earlier than usual on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7.
Horses will begin shipping into the Fort Erie backstretch in early April. The Summer Solstice Cup and the Sprint Into Summer Cup are the features on opening day, which will have a farmer’s market, food trucks, and a post-race concert.
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