Spectators must show proof of full vaccination to attend live races at Fort Erie Race Track beginning September 22, 2021, according to the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium. This move is in accordance with the province’s Reopening Ontario Act, 2020, which mandates that all visitors to horse racing tracks in Ontario be immunized against the unprecedented situation.
According to federal regulations, a fully vaccinated individual is one who has received the full dose of a vaccine approved by Health Canada. Visitors can also be fully vaccinated using not-authorized vaccines by Health Canada, followed by a vaccine mRNA. Before providing proof at the venue, those individuals must have received their final dose 14 days earlier.
New Measures in Place
According to provincial regulations, visitors of the race track must be completely vaccinated if they want to watch live races, according to Tom Valiquette, FELRC’s chief financial officer. He added that this also applies to patrons who plan to watch simulcasting racing at the Racebook during the week and on weekends.
The new rule will take effect on September 22, 2021, and proof of vaccination will be issued by the Ontario provincial government in the form of a document or an emailed receipt. The provincial booking website allows residents to print or download their immunization receipts. Individuals under the age of 18 are not required to provide proof of vaccination.
Medical exemptions will be allowed, according to the province’s Ministry of Health. One exception is if an individual has had an allergic reaction to a vaccine component. Another valid exemption is that if the person is suffering from a heart condition after receiving the first dose of the vaccine.
Individuals must provide written documentation completed by a physician or registered nurse in order for the exemptions to be accepted. The document will then state that the reason for not being fully vaccinated is due to medical concerns. In addition to the visitors, the race track’s employees, contractors, and horsepeople will all be vaccinated or undergo an enhanced screening program.
Renovations
During the racing off-season, the Fort Erie Living Racing Consortium has made various improvements to the Fort Erie Race Track. The track’s turf will be improved through enhanced drainage and sprinkler systems, as well as improvements to the backstretch, such as the installation of eavestroughs before the the arrival of the horses.
Improving Results
The race track had a very successful 2019 live harness season prior to the beginning of the unprecedented situation. In compared to previous seasons, the track reported an improvement in generated revenue at the time. The facility has accumulated almost CA$29,970,000 in placed wagers for the 2019 season. This is a 7% increase in comparison with the 2018 live season.
