Grand River Raceway primed for 20th race season

ELORA, ON (May 30, 2023) – On Friday, June 2, Grand River Raceway (GRR) kicks off another exciting season of harness racing! This year they will be celebrating their 20^th race season.

Grand River Raceway will host 48 standardbred race nights this season, including 18 OSS (Ontario Sire Stakes) events, from June through September. Racing takes place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday night with a post time of 6:30 p.m. See the full schedule here.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating our 20th race season here at Grand River,” says Chad Rozema, Raceway Manager. “We are excited to welcome back fans and ready to build on the already strong product with a pumped-up wagering menu.”

New for this season is the addition of a second Pick 5 starting in race 6 and a second Pick 3 offered on the final three races of each card.  Pick 3/4/5 wagers along with Double & Super Hi 5 are attractive options for horseplayers as they all offer a low 15% takeout.

GRR kicks off the race season on June 2 with some special treats for race fans. Join them for dinner and order the opening night meal special featuring a made-in-house smash burger and kettle chips, along with a soft drink for $15+hst and receive a FREE 20th race season stein as a keepsake! If you have a sweet tooth, stop into The GrandWay lobby to grab a FREE cookie provided by Paulas Pastries (find Paula on Instagram @paulas_pastries).

Here’s what you can expect this summer at GRR:

Follow GRR on social (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) or subscribe to their mailing list on their website grandriverraceway.com to get updates and news.

FREE Family Fun!

Every night is free entry for all. Need something for the kids to do? Our ambassador Tom, along with a variety of mutuel tellers, will be handing out Neighbourhood bags full of fun activities for kids every race night.

Food Trucks on Friday nights

A delicious fan favourite! A variety of trucks, with lots of great food options for you to choose from will be at the track most Friday nights.

GrandWay Patio Parties

Get a group of 12 or more together and enjoy a VIP experience right next to the track! Groups get an intimate horse racing experience in a reserved seating area on The GrandWay Patio. Limited dates available, excludes GRR large event dates. Contact bookings@thegrandway.com.

Large Events Happening at GRR:

June 2 – Opening Night

June 30 – Canada Day Celebrations (wear your red and white!)

July 14 – Wiener Dog Races

August 7 – Industry Day, featuring the Battle of Waterloo presented by Winbak Farms

August 18 – Harness the Hope (dress in pink!)

September 6 – National Caretaker Appreciation Day at GRR

Please be reminded that GRR and The GrandWay Events Centre are designated as smoke-free. Smoking is not permitted in any and on all exterior public racetrack facing areas including the grandstand, tarmac, and patio.

The Captain’s Quarters is open for first-come first-serve spectator seating only (with the exception of special events). There will not be an all-you-can-eat buffet in the tiered dining room this year, however, feel free to bring food from The GrandWay Lounge or the tarmac BBQ to enjoy.

GRR is ready to giddy-up and get the race season started! Follow along and keep up with all the fun by clicking here. At GRR, you can always come and expect an experience!

by Louise Frost, for Grand River Raceway