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Fort Erie Enjoys Increase In Handle At COVID-Free Live Meet

Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario, may have been closed to fans this year, but the 123rd racing season was still one for the record books. Despite the massive impact of COVID-19 and the many obstacles it presented, Fort Erie Race Track was able to safely operate 39 race days while remaining COVID-free.

“This season we had a backstretch community with close to 500 essential horse people, and more than 100 active staff members, and we were able to complete our meet safely and without any positive COVID-19 cases,” said Tom Valiquette, chief operating and financial officer of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium. “It was crucial that we were able to operate this season, and I want to thank all of our community members for working together safely and following our COVID-19 protocols. Through the efforts of every one of our team members, we were able to put on another successful season during one of the most challenging years in our history.”

Despite being closed to fans, Fort Erie saw a record year for wagering, with $40.2 million wagered this season on 39 days, up from $29.9 million last year with 40 days. This includes 15 days this season where more than $1 million was wagered.

Closing day on Tuesday featured the Tour de Fort at two miles and 70 yards on the main track. Auntie Katherine took the lead early on with jockey Emile Ramsammy, and she held on to that position for both laps around the track until she crossed the finish line. Trained by Jennifer Davis for owner Big Boy Racing, Auntie Katherine also won the Puss n Boots Cup and the Molson Cup earlier this season. With four wins from five starts, Auntie Katherine was this year's meet leading horse.

It was a very successful season for jockey Juan Crawford, who claimed the title of leading rider this year with 48 wins. Among his many victories, highlights included the Puss n Boots Cup and the Molson Cup, both with Auntie Katherine.

“I try to make use of every shot that I get, whether it's a long shot or a favorite. I just want to give every horse a fair chance and do my best for the people that I'm riding for,” said Crawford.

Jockey Melanie Pinto was second this year with 37 wins, followed by Kirk Johnson. Julie Mathes finished the season as leading trainer with 29 wins at Fort Erie, and her husband David Mathes took home the title of leading owner.

Fort Erie recently hosted the 85th Prince of Wales Stakes on September 29. The event is the 2nd jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, won by Mighty Heart, who now holds the first two legs of the series. Trained by Josie Carroll for owner Lawrence Cordes, the one-eyed wonder will be looking to make a run at the Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine on October 24, in his quest to be the first horse to win the OLG Canadian Triple Crown since Wando in 2003.

Looking towards 2021, Fort Erie has applied for 40 race days again next year, operating primarily on Mondays and Tuesdays, beginning June 1 through to October 19. At this time, Fort Erie's Racebook will continue to remain closed due to COVID-19.

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Queen’s Plate Winner Mighty Heart Will Take On Eight Rivals In Tuesday’s Prince Of Wales

Queen's Plate winner Mighty Heart will continue his pursuit of the prestigious OLG Canadian Triple Crown when he takes on eight contenders at Fort Erie Race Track in the 85th Prince of Wales Stakes, on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

After a dominating 7 ½-length triumph in the Queen's Plate, Mighty Heart, bred and owned by Lawrence Cordes, and trained by Canadian Hall of Fame inductee Josie Carroll, will look to continue his winning ways in the $400,000 Prince of Wales, second jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. On Friday, he was installed as the 7-5 morning line favorite.

Daisuke Fukumoto, who rode the one-eyed Ontario-bred to his stirring Plate score, is back in the irons for Tuesday's engagement for Canadian-bred three-year-olds, set for 1 3/16 miles on the Fort Erie dirt surface. Carroll, who won the 2006 Plate with Edenwold and the 2011 edition with the filly Inglorious, won the 2016 running of the Prince of Wales with Amis Gizmo.

Mighty Heart, who will leave from post two, faces Plate rivals Clayton (third in the Plate), Dotted Line (seventh), Tecumseh's War (fourth), and Truebelieve (ninth), as well as Bold Victory, Enchant Me, Muskoka Giant, and Red Victory.

Some of the sport's top experts have delivered their picks (see below) that comprise the Prince of Wales Power Rankings presented by the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. The Power Rankings spotlight top contenders as voted on by expert horseplayers and racing commentators from Woodbine Racetrack and Fort Erie Race Track, including Jeff Bratt, Robert Geller, Ashley Mailloux, Doug McPherson, Jason Portuondo and Monique Vag. The rankings are based on votes following a 5-4-3-2-1 points system for the top five selections.

Should Mighty Heart, whose Plate time of 2:01.98 was the second fastest Plate run since 1957, emerge victorious in the Prince of Wales, it could set up a possible date in the starting gate for the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes, third and final jewel in the Triple Crown Series, set for 1 ½ miles on the world renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course, October 24 at Woodbine.

The last horse to sweep all three races was Wando in 2003. Bred and owned by the late Gus Schickedanz, and trained by Mike Keogh, the son of Langfuhr garnered front-page coverage in the lead-up and aftermath of his Triple Crown quest.

First race post time on September 29 is 2:10 p.m., with the Prince of Wales scheduled for approximately 5:37 p.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Fort Erie Race Track will be closed to spectators. Fans can watch online or tune in to the Canadian Triple Crown broadcast, sponsored by OLG, beginning at 5:00 p.m. on TSN.

FIELD FOR THE PRINCE OF WALES

Post – Horse – Trainer – Jockey – Morning Line Odds

1 – Truebelieve – Cole Bennett – Keveh Nicholls – 30-1

2 – Mighty Heart – Josie Carroll – Daisuke Fukumoto – 7-5

3 – Dotted Line – Sid Attard – Justin Stein – 8-1

4 – Red Mercury – Paul Lepiane – Simon Husbands – 30-1

5 – Enchant Me – Santino Di Paola – Luis Contreras – 20-1

6 – Bold Victory – Mark Casse – Patrick Husbands – 12-1

7 – Tecumseh's War – Catherine Day Phillips – Emma-Jayne Wilson – 4-1

8 – Muskoka Giant – Mark Casse – Kazushi Kimura – 12-1

9 – Clayton – Kevin Attard – Rafael Hernandez – 5-2

PRINCE OF WALES POWER RANKINGS PRESENTED BY THE OLG CANADIAN TRIPLE CROWN

Horse – Trainer – Points – First-Place Votes

1 Mighty Heart – Josie Carroll – 27 – 4

2 Clayton – Kevin Attard – 23 – 1

3 Tecumseh's War – Catherine Day Phillips – 18 – 1

4 Dotted Line – Sid Attard – 14 – 0

5 Muskoka Giant – Mark Casse – 4 – 0

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After Rescheduling, Dr Blarney Takes Fourth Consecutive Massachusetts-Bred Rise Jim Stakes

It was an easy win for Dr Blarney, who was once again first across the finish line in the annual Rise Jim Stakes, hosted for the first time at Fort Erie Race Track. It's been just over a year since the 7-year-old chestnut gelding last raced, but that didn't stop him from taking his fourth consecutive Rise Jim Stakes. The race is a guaranteed $35,000 purse for thoroughbreds foaled in Massachusetts and registered with the Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeders Association (MTBA).

Trained by Karl M Grusmark for owner Joseph DiRico, Dr Blarney came out in front quickly and effortlessly, taking jockey Emile Ramsammy six furlongs on the dirt in 1:10.4. Returning $2.30 to his backers, this son of Dublin now has his 21st win from 29 career starts.

Second in the Rise Jim Stakes was Saint Alfred with jockey Christopher Husbands. Third was Successful Saint and Daisuke Fukumoto.

The MTBA set up a partnership with Fort Erie Race Track in the fall, to host a number of Mass-bred races this season. Originally scheduled for July 20, the Rise Jim Stakes had to be postponed when a series of delays prevented the van carrying all six horses from arriving at Fort Erie Race Track in time for racing.

“Our partnership with the MTBA is beneficial for all parties, and we look forward to hosting more Mass-bred races at Fort Erie this season,” said Tom Valiquette, chief operating and financial officer of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium.

Spectator- free racing returns at Fort Erie on Tuesday, July 28 at 1:10 p.m. Watch online at http://forterieracing.com/streaming-and-replays

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Massachusetts-Bred Stakes At Fort Erie Postponed When Entrants Unable To Cross U.S.-Canadian Border

Six horses were entered for Tuesday's $35,000 Rise Jim Stakes at Fort Erie Race Track, the first Massachusetts-bred stakes to be held at the Ontario track. Unfortunately, the race had to be postponed until the week of July 27 because the horses were unable to cross the U.S. border in time, according to horseracingnation.com.

Local jockeys were taking the mounts aboard the Rise Jim entrants, and local trainers and grooms were to be responsible for the horses. All six horses were on one trailer, and only the van driver and horses were crossing the border. Fort Erie's manager of marketing and media relations, Antoinetta Culic, called the issue “a domino effect of things.”

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Rise Jim Stakes for Massachusetts-bred thoroughbreds will be postponed until the week of July 27. The 6th race on today's card at Fort Erie has been cancelled. Race 7 will run at its scheduled post time, approximately 3:58 p.m.

— Fort Erie Race Track (@Forterieracing) July 21, 2020

The Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeders Association reached out to Fort Erie last fall to build a partnership that would allow Fort Erie to host a selection of Massachusetts-bred thoroughbred races throughout the year, after Suffolk Downs race track in Boston shut down at the end of last season.