Horse racing fans gather at Leamington Raceway for the first race day of the season, September 7, 2014. (Photo courtesy of Cordell Green)Horse racing fans gather at Leamington Raceway for the first race day of the season, September 7, 2014. (Photo courtesy of Cordell Green)
Chatham

Horse Racing Returns To Leamington

Horse racing returns to the Leamington Fairgrounds today.

The races are set for the next 14 Sundays, running to the end of October.

Racing is beginning a month earlier than last year, which will be a boost, according to Lakeshore Mayor Tom Bain. "The weather should be good for us to start. We've got some giveaways and prizes to start."

Bain says a $275,000 new racing paddock should be ready for the second or third weekend of racing.

He's also expecting more American horses this year, with the closure of a race track in Hazel Park, near Detroit. "I think you'll see more of the Michigan stables to come in and race here, and we always welcome the American betters here that follow them."

According to Bain, racing will continue in Leamington for the next five years, before they can begin looking at building a new track in Lakeshore.

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