RIP Fort Erie

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by justindew

Split variant that day, from what I read. The sun came out after the 2nd race and really changed the complexion of the racing surface.

Figure making on the Beyer scale would have been something of a bitch pre 1940 because of all the insane weight shifts.

In one race -- a winning horse might carry 85lbs to victory -- in another race they might carry 128lbs.

The filly race went a full second faster than the opens in the above race, but note the difference in pace, weight carried, and the huge margins between the beaten horses in the filly race.

[Frost King]

Beautiful old track until they put the slots in. The first time I went was about 30 years ago. The thing that stuck out to me was the old tote board that was inside. The old fashion chalkboard with chalk. I absolutely fell in love with the board.

[Calzone Lord]

I watched Dance Smartly win the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown at Fort Erie when I was about 10 year old. She swept the Canadian Triple Crown over the males and won the Breeders Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs to complete a perfect 8-for-8 season.

Dance Smartly was 3-for-5 at age 2. One defeat coming at Fort Erie in the Ontario Debutante -- the other was a 3rd place finish to Meadow Star in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies.

The racing scene from the movie The Black Stallion was shot at Fort Erie:




This is Fort Erie from 1929:

[OldDog]

Sad news. I've never been, but every time an old track shuts down it feels like another link to racing's past is gone.

Why did Ontario Lottery & Gaming pull the slots? Weren't they making money (how could they not be)?

[zippyneedsawin]

I live about 45 mins from the track and have never been there. I guess I better get there this summer.

[Danzig]

the black stallion was a fantastic movie. not too often do i enjoy the movie made based on a book-the book is almost always better.
another interesting tidbit from the movie: napolean was the same horse from early in animal house, who is 'shot' in the dean's office!


too bad about fort erie closing tho.

[Round Pen]

I have a couple of Friends there and They are a Little concerned that there not even going to make it through the whole meet before closing the doors