Fort Erie: Trying to Make a Splash on Tuesdays

Tweet I made my initial visit across the border to Ft. Erie Race Track on Tuesday afternoon to take in the races amid the thunderstorms that were passing through our area. Interestingly enough, in today's Buffalo News, Bob Summers (the Happy Handicapper) announced the track "is planning to switch to a 4 p.m. post time on the five Tuesdays in August. Publicity director Darryl Wells Jr. said the move is part of an attempt to improve attendance and boost simulcast wagering on a normally slow day."

I'd say that is pretty out of the box thinking. Last year the track moved back first post to 1:30pm to try and catch the later races of the afternoon as the only simulcast going. By going to the twilight August cards they will be one of the only shows in town mid-card. I give them credit for trying to shake things up. I'd like to see them market it a little more in Buffalo to the young crowd to come over for the twilight happy hour or something like that.

It was a sloppy track on Tuesday and I took a few shots for your viewing pleasure. I'd like to report some fantastic handicapping angles I discovered, but when you're playing $5K claimers anything can happen. It was mostly a day to relax make a few small wagers and have a couple lagers and enjoy being at the track. One of the unique races on the card was a 2 furlong quarter horse sprint that was fun to handicap and watch them cruise down the muddy strip.

Woman's Bay (8-1) holds off odds on Girl in the City in the third for the victory.












Bombs Away: A Fleets Escape (18-1) romps home by 2 1/2 over Daryl Ezra trained Fionn to complete a $130 exactor.











Watcha lookin' at Space Dude?



















There was plenty of room at the rail, I estimated about 250 or so souls who braved the weather.






Your 10-1 winner in the 7th, Perigree Silence ($23.50) with jockey Garcia up.












Jockey Christopher Griffith coming off the track after Race 7 on Cypress Point. Griffith currently trails only Krista Carignan on the jockey leader board at the Fort.










Here's Smart Bullet making his maiden debut for Stronach Stables after finishing 25 lengths back.











Now it's time to plot out the afternoon. The Saratoga Resident is in town and a rendezvous at a local watering hole is on the agenda for the big USA soccer game today. Let's hope the red, white and blue keep it rolling....enjoy the weekend.