A Horsepower-Filled Day In and Around Fort Erie
With a horse racing history almost as long as Churchill Downs, watching the jockeys compete at Fort Erie Race Track is an experience well worth building an entire Sunday around. But while you’re in the neighbourhood, it just makes sense to take advantage of all the other fun things there are to see and do on Niagara’s South Coast. Here’s a suggested one-day itinerary to round out your day at the track.
Pre-Race
Start your Niagara Sunday morning by strolling the Crystal Beach Farmer’s Market. Afterward, grab a coffee from Crystal Ball Café, Mellow Yellow Sips, or Shaka Farm To Beach and walk the streets of the charming little beach community to find your favourite cottage, or settle yourself onto the sandy shoreline at Bay Beach.
Depending on whether the day’s horse race starts at noon or later in the day, you’ll either want to head to the track or find another activity to fill the time. If you have time for some more Fort Erie-area fun, excellent options include:
Race Time
A jam-packed special events calendar means your visit to Fort Erie Race Track may offer a whole lot more than horse racing. Fan-favourite events hosted at the track on race days include the annual Weinerdog, Corgi, and Basset Hound races, concerts, a food-truck festival, and more. Tried-and-true horse racing fans will want to time their trip to coincide with the prestigious Prince of Wales Stakes, the marquee event that serves as the second jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown. Showcasing Canada's top three-year-old thoroughbreds in a thrilling test of speed and stamina, The Prince of Wales Stakes carries a $400,000 purse, making it the richest prize offered for any dirt track horse race in Canada.
Post-Race
Keep the good, old-fashioned fun vibes going strong by grabbing dinner after the race at The Barrel, a Fort Erie institution that’s been serving up delicious Italian classics since 1981.
