Standardbred racing is back in the Forest City this week as The Raceway at Western Fair District kicks off its 2024-2025 season on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
The opening day will feature 10 races, including Prospect Series action in the first event of the day. The highlight of the card is Leg 5B of the Prospect Series for two-year-old pacing fillies, which has attracted seven contenders. Among them, Better In Heels (PP3, Austin Sorrie, 2-1), fresh off a win in 1:57.3 at Flamboro on Sept. 24, will be looking to fend off a strong challenge from Miss Danni Song (PP2, Todd Ratchford, 5-2). Miss Danni Song skipped the Flamboro race but boasts two wins in her last three Prospect appearances.
Early season leaders Garrett Rooney and Cassidy Schneider will both have opportunities to extend their standings in the driver and trainer categories. Rooney, who has already notched 119 victories at Western Fair this year, has eight drives scheduled on Tuesday. Schneider brings a stable of four, seeking to add to her 41 training wins at the London half-mile track in 2024.
Live racing will take place every Monday, Tuesday, and Friday at 5:50 p.m., with exceptions on Boxing Day (Dec. 26) at 12:50 p.m. and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31) at 7:10 p.m.
During the summer, Western Fair completed its largest project since the break—a full resurfacing of the track, supported by the Ontario Racing capital funding program. A new state-of-the-art infield video board is also under construction and expected to be operational early in the fall meet.
On-track guests will return to the first-floor area, which was repurposed as London, Ontario’s primary COVID-19 vaccination site during the pandemic. The space, which houses the popular Homestretch Bar, has undergone some cosmetic updates and provides easy access to the outdoor grandstand and patio.
"Our team is excited for the fall season," said Greg Blanchard, Director of Equine Programming. "A large part of our facility has been under construction, causing some disruption to our customers, but we appreciate their patience. We’re working hard to enhance the guest experience while making long-term improvements."
Several special events are scheduled for the fall, including the Ontario Sires Stakes Prospect Series finals (Oct. 11), the 19th annual Harness The Hope event (Oct. 18), National Caretaker Appreciation Day (Nov. 1), and the Drivers Holiday Challenge (Dec. 10).
The Top of the Fair dining room will be open for Friday night buffet dinners featuring a fall-inspired menu. Additionally, Trifecta Tuesdays, a monthly promotion on the third Tuesday (except Dec. 10), will offer dining, gaming, and wagering vouchers at a special rate for seniors. The dining room will also open on Tuesday, Oct. 15, with a special offer for guests attending the London Classic Yearling Sale (LCYS).
Looking ahead to the spring, The Raceway’s long-running City of London Series will be rebranded as the London Classic Sales Series, supported by proceeds from the yearling sale, now owned by the Western Fair Association. The series conditions will remain the same, with divisional finals offering $40,000 purses and taking place on Camluck Classic night, scheduled for the last Friday in May.
"With our involvement in the yearling sale, we wanted to find a way to support the local racing community," Blanchard said. "This change strengthens an important event for our horse people and provides great opportunities to develop young horses while racing for substantial purses. It also adds incentive for buyers at the sale."