Ottawa's beloved Rideau Carleton Raceway may be down, but the local horse-racing community isn't ready to count it out just yet.
After the track's owners announced in April that the Rideau Carleton Raceway would be closing its doors, a determined group of jockeys, horse breeders, and racing enthusiasts has come together to explore every possible option to keep the facility operating. For many in this tight-knit community, the raceway isn't just a place to work — it's a way of life that spans generations.
A Track With Deep Ottawa Roots
The Rideau Carleton Raceway has been a fixture in Ottawa's south end for decades, drawing both hardcore racing fans and casual visitors looking for a unique night out. The harness racing track has hosted thousands of races and helped sustain a local industry that includes stable hands, trainers, veterinarians, and a wide support network of agricultural and equestrian businesses tied to the Ottawa region.
For the jockeys and breeders who rely on the track, the closure announcement hit hard. Many have spent years — in some cases their entire careers — connected to Rideau Carleton. The prospect of losing the facility means not just losing jobs, but losing the infrastructure that makes Ottawa-area horse racing possible at all.
What the Community Is Asking For
The coalition of local racing stakeholders is asking for continued access to the Rideau Carleton grounds, even as ownership transitions or the broader redevelopment picture for the site takes shape. Their goal is to find a workable arrangement — whether temporary or long-term — that allows harness racing to continue while larger questions about the property's future are sorted out.
Proponents argue that keeping the track operational, even in a reduced capacity, would protect livelihoods and preserve a cultural institution that holds sentimental value for many Ottawans. Losing it entirely, they warn, could permanently scatter the horses, staff, and expertise that make the racing community function.
What Comes Next
The situation remains fluid, and no final deal has been confirmed. The community group is working to engage with property owners, provincial regulators, and other stakeholders to make the case that racing at Rideau Carleton can continue.
Harness racing in Ontario has faced mounting pressures in recent years — from shifting entertainment habits to competition from online gambling — and the Rideau Carleton closure is part of a broader, difficult chapter for the sport across the province. Still, Ottawa's racing advocates believe there's still an audience and an economic case for keeping the track alive.
For now, the horses, trainers, and jockeys who have called Rideau Carleton home are waiting and hoping — and making as much noise as they can to ensure their sport has a future in the capital.
Source: CBC Ottawa
