Fraser Downs in Surrey shuts down without warning, leaving trainers, workers, and horses in limbo as the city moves ahead with redevelopment plans.
Shockwaves Through the Horse Racing Community
The sudden closure of Fraser Downs Racetrack in Cloverdale has left Metro Vancouver’s harness racing community reeling. For decades, the track stood as a cornerstone of the sport in British Columbia. Now, with its doors closed, trainers, workers, and horse owners say they’ve been blindsided.
Closure Without Warning
Earlier this month, the City of Surrey ended Fraser Downs’ lease, forcing the racetrack to shut down immediately. The timing could not have been worse. Trainers had already been preparing for the September season, but instead of excitement, many were left scrambling for answers.
“I’m angry that there was no warning,” said Randy Rutledge, a longtime horse owner from Aldergrove. “We don’t know where to go next with these horses.” Rutledge has taken in some displaced horses, but he worries about grooms and workers suddenly left without jobs.
A Blow to Generations of Investment
For trainers like Cody Easton, the financial hit is enormous. Breeding and training a standardbred horse is a long-term commitment, and now those investments have been slashed in value.
“All the horses bred in B.C. just lost most of their earning potential,” Easton explained. “It’s devastating.”
Since opening in 1976, Fraser Downs had been the only standardbred racing facility in B.C. Its sudden end, industry members say, marks not just the loss of a business but also a piece of local heritage. On Friday, frustrated trainers and supporters rallied outside Elements Casino to protest the decision.
City Defends Redevelopment Plans
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke defended the closure, saying the city needs the land for its Cloverdale Fairgrounds and Town Centre revitalization project. The plan includes new housing, cultural venues, expanded recreation facilities, and infrastructure to support the $3-billion hospital already underway.
“The racetrack sits on more than 12 acres in the heart of the Fairgrounds,” Locke stated. “Releasing that land allows us to deliver what the community needs.”
No Clear Future for Racing
Despite the city’s promises of growth, those tied to horse racing say their future has been erased overnight. Many feel the decision ignored the economic and cultural role of the sport.
“If the mayor understood what goes into this industry, consultation would have happened,” said Easton. “Instead, the rug was just pulled out from under us.”
With Fraser Downs gone, Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver is now the last horse racing facility in the Lower Mainland. However, its lease expires next May, raising further doubts about the future of the sport in the region.
Divided Reactions
While trainers and workers fight to preserve their livelihood, animal advocacy groups see the closure differently. The Vancouver Humane Society welcomed the decision, calling it part of a larger shift away from horse racing.
“Horse racing subjects animals to danger, injuries, and premature decline,” said Emily Pickett, the group’s campaign director. “This closure signals long-overdue change.”
What’s Next?
The sudden shutdown has left the harness racing community without a home and no clear path forward. As Surrey moves ahead with redevelopment, many trainers and workers are left wondering: where do they go now, and what happens to the horses caught in the middle?
