The Loop gets first horses on the track

The return of harness racing to the city of Winnipeg got one step closer as horsemen were invited out on Saturday (October 22) to test out The Loop which is now scheduled to open in 2023. The Loop is the name of the brand new racetrack in Winnipeg, Canada.

Half of a dozen horsemen were able to get out on the track and test out what has been completed to this point.

There is still some work to be done before next summer but things have been progressing better as of late. The opening of the Loop has been delayed a few times over the last couple of years due to a global pandemic and the massive amount of rainfall in the area. However, slowly construction has continued and now has gotten to the point where horses were able to get out there to see their new home.

Horses from around the Province of Manitoba gathered at the Loop to test out the new facility.

Harness racing has not officially been conducted in the city of Winnipeg since 1996. Back in those days, harness racing was held at Assiniboia Downs which is still a popular spot for thoroughbred racing.

Since the standardbred industry vacant Winnipeg, they have held events in small communities around Manitoba. The fair circuit system has served the horsemen of Manitoba well over the years, but it started becoming apparent a more permanent home was needed.

The Loop is located just across the road from Assiniboia Downs on the property of the Red River Exhibition Park. The Red River Exhibition Association is a non-profit organization with roots as an agricultural society that promotes Manitoban tourism, commerce, and agriculture. The Red River Exhibition Park is home to Winnipeg’s largest summer carnival, The Ex. The addition of a new track will bring back harness racing to the largest city in the province which has not hosted it for almost 27 years.  234

Not only were only the horses able to get onto the track, but the starting gate was able to get out there and have a few trial runs. With the amount of rain over the past summer, it was tough to get the gate onto the track but now construction has been completed enough so it was no longer an issue. The track was able to hold up the horses and the started gate well for its first test.

One horse had the opportunity to earn the unofficial track record on Saturday. Dontrocktheboat (Riverboat King) and trainer, Kevin Hildebrandt went out for a trial mile and were able to complete it in the time of 2:12.1.

This modest mile time will surely be surpassed once official racing gets going next year but the event gave those in Manitoba standardbred community something to cheer for as they embark on the next chapter of harness racing in the province.

There is still more work that needs to be done and there is expected a long, cold Manitoban winter before any official racing can be done. But there is a lot of positivity in the air. President of the Manitoba Harness Racing Industry, Trevor Williams had the following statement.

“The horsemen seemed pleased with the progress of the track’s surface. The whole place looks more and more like a racetrack every time we are there. The general consensus is horsemen remain very excited about next year, and it’s clear we’re finally in the home stretch to holding a meet at the Loop.” — Trevor Williams

As it stands, completion of the track is still scheduled to be completed as soon as possible and it is expected to open either late spring or early summer of 2023.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink