Grand River Raceway will host its 10th annual backstretch open house on May 27.
Guests are invited to drop-in any time from 11am to 2pm for a rare glimpse of horse racing behind-the-scenes.
A full tour of the six main stations lasts about one hour – including the unique opportunity to drive a racehorse.
Admission is free, but participants are urged to make a $10 donation (per family) at the door to support local organizations which aid in the retraining and placement of retired racehorses into new riding and driving careers. A barbecue lunch and beverages will be available for purchase between 11:30am – 2pm.
Interactive stations include a tour of the judges’ stand and announcer’s booth high atop the grandstand with track announcer Gary Guy.
In the barn, visitors learn about the basics of breeding, owning, training, driving and caring for racehorses.
The event will run rain or shine and participants are urged to wear closed-toe shoes and casual, comfortable clothing. Helmets and safety vests will be provided.
