Grand River welcomes back fans

Centre Wellington, ON – In light of the recent Ontario Government announcement Grand River Raceway will welcome back 500 spectators at live harness racing beginning June 30th. 

Moving into Step 2 of the Roadmap to Reopen Ontario provides Grand River Raceway with the opportunity to bring back its much missed spectators. Although indoor spaces will remain closed until Step 3, there will be access to betting, and food and beverage from The New GrandWay Lounge.  

“We are thrilled to welcome back guests in advance of the anticipated move to Step 2,” shares Jamie Martin, Director of Operations at Grand River Raceway, “we will continue to deliver high quality racing, and a true experience for guest, while also operating in a safe manner in accordance with WDPH best practices.” 

Spectators will be required to register online to provide ease of contact tracing, a current requirement of the Provincial plan. Spectators will also be asked to engage in passive Covid screening, and are welcomed to the track if they;  

• Have no symptoms (fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, or shortness of breath) • Have not travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days 
• Have not been in close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 Guests will be reminded to practice social distancing and keep a 2-meter (6 feet) space between  themselves and others. 

Free Seasons passes, or nightly ticket to attend Grand River Raceway, will be available soon at www.grandriverraceway.com 

So, what can you expect at Grand River Raceway?  

Step 2 will be a transition “back to business as usual” with 11 races every Monday, Wednesday, Friday race night. Post time is 6.30pm, and guests will be welcomed from 5.30pm onwards. 

The Tarmac, Tarmac Tent, GrandWay Lounge Patio, Grandstand and Bleachers will all be  available, but with no assigned seating. 

All guest looking to watch racing will enter from the east side of the main building (left) and will  have open access between the Tarmac and new GrandWay Patio.

All food and beverage will be served from The GrandWay lounge, with a range of pub food and beverages. Until Step 3 all items will  be served takeout style, and guests are invited to enjoy their meal trackside in the heart of the action. 

Mutuel tellers will be onsite to take bets on the Patio, in the GrandWay Lounge, and on the  second floor of the Casino building (accessible only from the Tarmac). There will be self serve  stations available in all of these locations and also in the Tarmac Tent. A reminder if you are coming to the track for the first time all betting takes place in cash and there is an ATM onsite. 

Programs can be purchased from any of the Mutuel teller locations or downloaded free of charge  at https://grandriverraceway.com/programs/. Washroom access will be on the second floor of the main building, and in The GrandWay. 

The Neighbourhood activities and trackside entertainment won’t resume until Step 3 of  reopening. Elements Casino is scheduled to reopen in Step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen, and is not accessible at this time. 

“We are incredibly excited to open to guests, and certainly appreciate everyone’s patience and  understanding as we navigate this new way of operating.” says Katie Giddy, Director of Hospitality, Sales and Marketing, “we are certainly doing everything we can to be prepared and  invite guest to Expect an Experience.” 

For those not able to join in person, you can still follow along, with live racing broadcast every  race night at https://grandriverraceway.com/livestreams-replays/

From Grand River Raceway