Kawartha Downs Kicks Off 2025 Harness Racing Season

The 2025 harness racing season at Kawartha Downs officially begins this Saturday, May 17th, with a dozen thrilling races scheduled for opening night. Post time is set for 6:00 PM, marking a return to the track's traditional Saturday evening slot.

Photo Credit: https://facebook.com/KawarthaDownsHarnessRacing

Date & Time: Saturday, May 17, 2025 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Location: Kawartha Downs, 1382 County Rd 28, Fraserville, Ontario

Admission: Free

Seating Options: Indoor grandstand, outdoor picnic tables, and the Grandstand Dining Room (reservations recommended)

Dining: Buffet service in the Grandstand Dining Room, concessions, and the Player's Lounge & Café

The 2025 season spans 18 race nights, concluding on Saturday, September 20. Each race night features a 6:00 PM post time.

Harness racing at Kawartha Downs showcases Standardbred horses, either pacers or trotters, racing over a five-eighths mile track. Pacers move with both legs on the same side operating together, while trotters race with their opposite legs working together. The races are conducted with horses pulling sulkies, offering a unique and exciting spectator experience.

Photo Credit:  Canva

Full 2025 Race Schedule

• Saturday, May 17
• Saturday, May 24
• Saturday, May 31
• Saturday, June 7
• Saturday, June 14
• Saturday, June 28
• Saturday, July 5
• Saturday, July 12
• Saturday, July 19
• Saturday, July 26
• Saturday, August 2
• Saturday, August 9
• Saturday, August 16
• Saturday, August 23
• Saturday, August 30
• Saturday, September 6
• Saturday, September 13
• Saturday, September 20

Whether you're a seasoned racing enthusiast or new to the sport, Kawartha Downs offers an exciting and family-friendly atmosphere to enjoy the thrill of harness racing. With free admission, diverse dining options, and a full season of races ahead, it's the perfect opportunity to experience live horse racing in Ontario.

Photo Credit:  Photo Credit: https://facebook.com/KawarthaDownsHarnessRacing

For more information please visit:  https://www.kawarthadowns.com/events/harness-racing

Kawartha Speedway is a 3/8-mile paved oval located in Fraserville, Ontario, approximately 10 km southwest of Peterborough. The paved track is within the harness racing track, temporary grandstands are brought onto the harness racing tracks surface.

Horse racing is an exciting sport, a dynamic business and a major contributor to the agricultural economy in Ontario. At Kawartha Downs, they feature harness or Standardbred racing where the horses are attached to a race bike (called a sulky) and are steered by drivers through a one- mile race.

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