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Montreal Harness Racing Goes Dark

June 27th 2008

 4 comments

Good morning. Today we learn that L'Hippodrome de Montreal, formerly known as Blue Bonnets, has gone dark, indefinitely, while the yahoos at Loto-Quebec and the even bigger yahoos in the provincial government try to figure out a way to make a profit from one of the biggest cash cows in modern gaming history (slots). What a pathetic story this has been over the past few years.
 
With its rich horse racing tradition-- there were flats at Blue Bonnets before the sulkies came-- Montreal is a no-brainer for a vibrant harness scene. I mean, if racing in Chester, PA can be a hit why not in a huge metropolitan center like Montreal? And if it never comes back it's an indictment on everyone involved up there. 

Comments

Danny Plasky said...

I don't understand your snide comment about a successful racino, probably the nicest anywhere!

Harness racing @ Chester Pa (Philadelphia vicinity) is attracting
better horses , purses and drivers than the Big M.

Perhaps if Quebec racing wasn;t so provincial, restrictive and uncompetitive, it would be enjoying some success.


posted at 12:02 PM on Jun 30th 2008

Peter Gerry said...

Hippodrome de Montreal is one of the best racing venues in North America. Some of the greatest horses in the history of the sport have competed there. It is a tragedy it has come to this.

Montreal has a strong core of gentlemen drivers who are passionate about harness racing and who as a group are capable of rescuing this enterprise and returning it to its former glory. I know them; they are friends and colleagues. They have the contacts and the resources.

If they can get together as a team, they can do great things. They have the intellect, the energy, the resources and I believe the contacts. And they will get help from their firend south of the border if they request it. I and others among our fraternity have been already been approached.

If they do get together and pull it off, it will not be the first time that the amateur driver community has risen to the task and recovered a great traditon for harness racing.

From Andrew; Thanks, Peter. Can you tell me more about what's up?

posted at 1:24 PM on Jun 28th 2008

Allan said...

They had some great races there. The Prix d'Ete; remember Hot Hitter with Herve Fillion standing in the sulky after winning the race? Also, they had the Trot de Mondaile, which was the only international race after the Roosevelt International went away.

posted at 11:05 AM on Jun 27th 2008

Don Daniels said...

from the Nov 15, 1928 Trotter and Pacer magazine:

Noted Track Likely to Go
MONTREAL, QUE., NOV. 9.
IF the city government of Montreal has its way Delorimier Park, one of the best known racetracks in Canada, will disappear before the desire for street extensions. For many years the track was the scene of some of the biggest harness meetings in Canada. The property was surveyed for street openings some time back and it is the desire of the city administration to cut through as soon as possible, thus spoiling the park's usefulness for racing.
The Montreal Driving Club held the property under lease from the owners, the Canada Cement Company. This lease has now expired but there is an' option to purchase which the Driving Club may exercise. Leo Dandurand, Joe Cattarinich and H. A. Letourneau, the officers of the Montreal Driving Club, are determined to carry the purchase through and retain the land for its present use, a race track, but the city officials threaten to exercise the right of eminent domain if an attempt is made- to keep the track intact.
--------
from the Feb 7, 1929 Trotter and Pacer magazine and "Twenty Years Ago" (1909) column:

The ice meeting at Montreal, One., produced as $1,000 stake winners Star Brino (McEwen), Merry Widow (Rombaugh), The Eel (Entricken). and King Allen (Martin).

From Andrew: Great post, Don! Thank you.,

posted at 10:32 AM on Jun 27th 2008

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