Ottawa is losing one of its longest-running sporting traditions. The Rideau Carleton Raceway has announced it will cease harness racing operations following the 2026 season, drawing the curtain on 64 years of live horse racing in the nation's capital.
A Long Run in Ottawa's History
Since opening in 1962, Rideau Carleton has been a fixture of Ottawa's entertainment landscape, drawing generations of racing fans to its grandstands along Albion Road in the city's south end. For decades, harness racing nights were a staple outing for Ottawa families — the smell of the track, the roar of the sulkies rounding the final turn, the ritual of studying the racing form over a hot dog and a beer.
The raceway has survived many changes over the years, transitioning from a standalone track to a full-scale entertainment venue after slots arrived in the late 1990s, and later evolving into the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa complex. But with the 2026 season set to be its last on the track, an era is officially coming to a close.
Why the Closure?
The decision reflects broader industry trends that have seen harness racing attendance and wagering decline steadily across North America over the past two decades. As casino gaming and online entertainment have grown, live racing has struggled to maintain its audience. For operators, maintaining a functioning racetrack — with its stabling, veterinary requirements, and race-day staffing — is an increasingly costly proposition when the grandstands aren't filling up like they once did.
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa, which now operates the site, has not announced specific plans for the racing footprint, but the shift clearly signals the property's future lies in its gaming and hospitality offerings rather than equine sport.
What It Means for Ottawa
The closure will be felt most acutely by the local harness racing community — the trainers, drivers, grooms, and horse owners who have built careers and livelihoods around the Ottawa oval. Many of these individuals will need to relocate their operations to other Ontario tracks, such as Rideau's longtime rival, The Meadowlands, or closer alternatives like Georgian Downs.
For casual Ottawa fans and nostalgia-seekers, the 2026 season represents a final chance to catch live harness racing at the track before it goes dark. If you've been meaning to go — or want to go one last time — this is the year to do it.
One Last Season to Remember
There's something bittersweet about knowing a season will be the last. Racing fans in Ottawa have the rest of 2026 to soak it in: the chalk smell of the paddock, the announcer calling the stretch run, the soft glow of the tote board. Sixty-four years is a long and honourable run.
Ottawa's sporting and entertainment scene continues to evolve, and Rideau Carleton will be remembered as one of its most enduring chapters.
Source: Ottawa Business Journal — obj.ca
