It’s a long way off, but I thought one of the interesting developments announced at Hanover Raceway for the 2012 season is a shift of the Summer Series nights from Wednesday to Thursday.
For as long as I can remember, Hanover has hosted a race card on Wednesday nights through July and August to compliment their regular Saturday night programs.
In a curious development a couple of years ago, the powers that be allowed Grand River Raceway at Elora to shift their dates and also operate on Wednesday nights.
Now, the legislators of who-races-when have allowed Hanover to shuffle their Summer Series dates to Thursday and there is promise in the air.
Yes, it will take some altering of long time habits among race fans, but I’m sure in short order, Thursdays will be equally as acceptable.
The bigger positive factor, for both Grand River and Hanover, is that having separate nights allows the true race fan, driver or horseman, the option of being a both tracks.
When Hanover and Grand River, tracks located within about an hour of each other, operated on the same night, it created an ” either/or ” scenario, especially for horse people who had to choose which track they competed at.
Moving to Thursdays, Hanover is now up against Hiawatha at Sarnia and Woodbine in Toronto, creating a vastly greater geographical competitive space, which should allow Hanover Raceway a better opportunity to attract fans, drivers and owners to their facility.
I’m Fred Wallace