Fredericton Raceway

Fredericton Raceway
Interactive map of Fredericton Raceway
LocationFredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Coordinates45°57′38.1″N 66°39′17.2″W / 45.960583°N 66.654778°W / 45.960583; -66.654778
Date opened1887
Date closed2016
Course typeHarness racing (half-mile dirt oval)
Notable racesWalter Dale Memorial Pace

Fredericton Raceway was a Canadian harness racing track located in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

History

Horse racing in Fredericton, New Brunswick began at a mile-long track less than one-quarter of a mile from the local exhibition grounds, with racing there ending in 1886.[1] Established on September 15, 1886, the York Trotting Park Association secured funding to lease about 20 acres of the former property of William H. Odell and began developing a half-mile track.[2]

Founding and early years (1887–1920s)

Fredericton Trotting Park Association

Fredericton Raceway was established as a trotting park in 1887 on grounds adjoining the New Brunswick Provincial Exhibition in Fredericton.[3] The establishment of the new facility was the work of three prominent Fredericton harness racing figures: Hon. Frederick P. Thompson, William Flewelling, and John McCoy.[1] The Fredericton Trotting Park Association opened the half-mile oval on September 28, 1887.[4]

Fredericton Exhibtion Ltd.

After years of discussion regarding amalgamation, the directors of the Fredericton Provincial Exhibition voted in July 1921 to purchase the adjoining racetrack from the Fredericton Trotting Park Association.[5] That year, the trotting park was formally incorporated into the New Brunswick Provincial Exhibition,[3] while the association continued to conduct racing operations during annual agricultural fairs and summer meetings.[5] During "Exhibition Week", the raceway hosted harness racing cards that drew hundreds of attendees from across the Maritimes and New England.[6] The races remained a component of exhibition events until 2016.[3]

Fredericton Driving & Sporting Club

In January 1924, the Fredericton Exhibition directors approved a five-year lease of the track to the Fredericton Driving & Sporting Club. The club conducted midsummer meetings, while the Exhibition retained fall racing rights during fair weeks. Longtime Fredericton track official D. W. 'Dave' Griffiths was elected racing secretary of the Fredericton Driving & Sporting Club, replacing William Cruikshank.[7] Fredericton Raceway gained a reputation as Canada's fastest half-mile track after Guesswork paced a 2:04¼ mile on September 22, 1926.[8] Many Maritime, Canadian, and world records were recorded at the track.

Mid-20th century (1930s–1950s)

Between 1940 and 1946, the site operated as a Canadian Army training facility known as the New Brunswick Training Center.[4] Following the war, racing resumed in 1947 with a three-day meet held during the annual Fredericton Exhibition.[1]

The Fredericton Exhibition Ltd. took a major step forward in 1954 with the installation of lights, allowing extended pari-mutuel night meets.[1] The first night of racing under lights took place on July 5, 1954.[4] In 1956, Fredericton Raceway officials established the Walter Dale Memorial Pace, naming the season's top free-for-all event in honor of the Canadian half-mile record set at the oval in 1937.[9] The Canadian record of 2:02½ set at Fredericton Raceway stood for 18 years. The memorial pace was staged at Fredericton Raceway for over 55 years,[10] becoming the oldest free-for-all horse race in Canada.[11]

Among the notable guests at Fredericton Raceway were Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip who witnessed their first harness race on July 28, 1959.[4]

Later operations (1960s–2000s)

Community Racing Association

After a Woodstock-based group that had run the track in 1958 withdrew on September 12, 1959, local horsemen and sportsmen formed the Community Racing Association to continue the season.[12] In 1960, the half-mile oval in Fredericton was leased from the Frederiction Exhibition Ltd. and operated by the Community Racing Association, a non-proft organization composed of local sportsmen.[13] The new operators of the track introduced a refurbished racing strip, improved race programs with past-performance data, replaced tote board figures with odds, and installed a public address system.[14] By the late 1960s, Fredericton Raceway was a host of the Atlantic Sires Stakes circuit for 2-year-old and 3-year-old colts and fillies.[15]

The agreement between the Community Racing group and Fredericton Exhibition Ltd. remained in effect until 1968.

Wilmot Downs Ltd.

Wilmot Downs Ltd. entered into a five-year lease of the track in March 1969, renaming it Wilmot Downs after the nearby Wilmot Park.[16] The track was operated by the group of local businessmen until the company dissolved before the 1973 season.[17]

Fredericton Exhibition Raceway Ltd.

In 1974, the raceway at Wilmot Downs was taken over by the harness racing division of Fredericton Exhibition Ltd., with general manager duties held by Brian Embleton. A 64-horse barn was built that year, with another 80-horse barn built in 1978, totaling costs of $500,000 for both buildings.[17] The facility installed a $12,000, 85-foot-long digital tote board and a new parimutuel betting system in 1983, introducing triactor as well as inter-track wagering with Saint John's Exhibition Park Raceway. By 1986, the racing plant had 19 barns and capacity to house around 185 horses on the track.[18] Fredericton Exhibition Raceway marked its 100th anniversary in 1987.[19]

An agreement reached in 1993 with Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, New Brunswick concentrated summer racing at Fredericton, boosting average betting activity by almost 60%. The 1994 season marked its first under the Maritime Provinces Harness Racing Commission.[15]

By the 2000s, the Fredericton Exhibition Raceway was the oldest racetrack in Canada.[20] Horseracing New Brunswick took over management of the racing facility in 2008. The organization's $650,000 in annual provincial government funding was withdrawn in March 2013.[11]

Closure

The Fredricton Raceway held three racing dates during the 2016 season.[21] In December 2016, the New Brunswick Provincial Exhibition did not renew Fredericton Raceway's lease.[22]

Fredericton Raceway last hosted harness racing on September 8, 2019. The grandstand of the former harness racing track at the New Brunswick Provincial Exhibition was demolished in 2025.[23]

Track records

Time Horse Date Driver Notes
2:13¼ Dingloa 1913 — Earliest known track record
2:11¼ Adioo Guy 1919 Harry Brown
2:08¾ Peter Farren 1920 Billy Brickley
2:08¼ Roy Volo 1921 Bert Lint [1]
2:07 Peter Pokey September 13, 1934 Henry Clukey Trotting record
2:02½ Walter Dale September 15, 1937 Henry Clukey Pacing record
2:02⅕ Daily Special June 14, 1979 Mike Downey
2:01.1 Bright and Breezy August 4, 1980 Steve Mason
2:00.4 Pennant Play August 21, 1981 Wally Hennessey [24]
1:59.3 Clipper Seelster July 19, 1982 Willard Carr First to beat 2:00 barrier[25]
1:58.2 Waveore June 27, 1985 David Pinkney
1:58.2 Burners Delight July 17, 1986 Jody Hennessey
1:58.1 Suthen Guvna June 25, 1987 Paul MacDonald
1:58 Bub September 7, 1991 Graham Chappell
1:57 King Tyler September 7, 1991 Steve Mahar
1:55 Shannon Commander June 26, 1993 Garry MacDonald
1:54.2 Mcapulco July 2, 2012 Brodie MacPhee [24]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Fredericton Raceway Is Now 71 Years Old, Illustrious Career". Daily Gleaner. 28 June 1959. p. 20. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  2. ^ Squires, William Austin (1980). History of Fredericton: The Last 200 Years. City of Fredericton. p. 151. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  3. ^ a b c "New Brunswick Exhibition Grounds Site Development Plan" (PDF). fredericton.ca. April 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d Briggs, Brent (14 December 2012). "Celebrating Fredericton Raceway's 125-year history". Daily Gleaner. p. B2. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Fredericton Exhibition Extends Its Grounds". The Boston Globe. 29 July 1921. p. 6. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Harness Racing Big Attraction". Telegraph-Journal. 3 September 1960. p. 15. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  7. ^ "Driving Club Will Hold The Summer Races". Daily Gleaner. 24 January 1924. p. 10. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Fredericton Raceway One Of The Finest In The East". Daily Gleaner. 23 July 1958. p. 20. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  9. ^ Gilliand, Steve (20 August 1983). "27th Walter Dale Pace Goes Monday". Daily Gleaner. p. 13. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  10. ^ Briggs, Brent (1 January 2013). "Chasing away the ghost of Walter Dale". Daily Gleaner. p. B4. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  11. ^ a b Ross, Jamie (22 September 2012). "What lies ahead for harness racing in New Brunswick". Daily Gleaner. p. C10. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Racing Continued Downward Trend In 59". Telegraph-Journal. 2 January 1960. p. 14. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  13. ^ "Harness Racing at Fredericton Raceway". Telegraph-Journal. 4 June 1960. p. 17. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  14. ^ Palmer, Ingham (4 May 1960). "Along the Rail". Telegraph-Journal. p. 12. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  15. ^ a b Connor, Chris (21 June 1994). "Fredericton Raceway Off And Running Tomorrow Night". Daily Gleaner. p. 20. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  16. ^ "Wilmot Downs Ltd Takes Over Local Race Track". Daily Gleaner. 4 March 1969. p. 11. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  17. ^ a b Briggs, Brent (13 April 1985). "Harness Chatter". Daily Gleaner. p. 19. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  18. ^ "At the track Episode 5/Track Feature Fredericton Raceway ..." youtube.com. 1986. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  19. ^ Harness Horse - Volume 52, Issues 43-47. 1987. p. 4. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  20. ^ Power, Mike (11 June 2002). "Things are looking up in a big way". Daily Gleaner. p. 14. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  21. ^ "Horse owners in limbo at Fredericton Raceway". cbc.ca. 22 December 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  22. ^ Cox, Aidan (31 May 2023). "Fredericton councillor questions recent horse-racing event quietly planned at NBex". cbc.ca. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  23. ^ "Demolition Of Fredericton Raceway Grandstand Begins". standardbredcanada.ca. 4 December 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  24. ^ a b Briggs, Brent (6 February 2013). "Daily Special put the ghost of Walter Dale to rest". Daily Gleaner. p. B4. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  25. ^ "2nd Anniversary Of Racing History At FR". Daily Gleaner. 19 July 1984. p. 20. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
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