Corgis and hounds fetch 52 per cent wagering jump for race track
August 14, 2026 at 5:05 AM
On-track wagering at Fort Erie Race Track increased 52 per cent during last week’s corgi and basset hound races, but demand for the free event exceeded the space in its schedule, leaving about 40 dogs on a waitlist.
A record 112 dogs ran on August 3, with 92 corgis and 20 basset hounds competing in heats before their breed finals. More owners registered than in any previous year, but the track limits entries so the races finish on time.
James Culic, the track’s manager of marketing and corporate communications, told Fort Erie Radio the races pay off because they introduce the track to people who would otherwise never attend, and those visitors spend money once they arrive.
“While the dog races are a non-wagering event, they are a great way to get people who might not otherwise attend the track, to come out and see what horse racing is all about,” said Culic.
“They also offer a boost to our bottom line through the increased on-track attendance, which leads to increased wagering and food and beverage sales.”
In May, Culic told CBC News the track would “have to start letting people go” if a stalled $35-million provincial funding agreement did not get finalized.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and Ontario Racing had approved the deal, but Woodbine Entertainment Group, the only party with veto power, blocked it in a dispute over how the money would be divided.
The province finalized the agreement in late June. It sends $35 million a year to Ontario’s horse racing industry for five years. The deal raised the purse for the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie by $100,000 to $500,000.
Culic said in July the funding will bring a significant purse increase for breeders, trainers and owners.
The track ran its first wiener dog races in 2018 and added the corgi and basset hound event in 2024.
“Organizing the dog races is a lot of work behind the scenes, but we’ve been hosting these events for seven years now, so our team of volunteers and staff have it down to a science and we run the dog races like a well-oiled machine at this point,” said Culic.
The closest finish in the event’s history was decided the Battle of the Breeds finale. Chloe, a corgi from Niagara Falls, held off Frank the Fur Goblin, the track’s reigning wiener dog champion, by about six inches.
Officials reviewed a video replay to confirm the result. Chloe has won both editions of the cross-breed final. A basset hound named Frank Costanza, whose owners come from Vineland, won the basset title.
Admission and parking for the dog races cost nothing, and Culic said the track plans to keep the event free.
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About The Author
Andrew Hawlitzky
Andrew is a Niagara community journalist who has covered everything from local politics to annual festivals and breaking news. He works to make local news a platform where community voices lead the conversation. "If you don't like the news, go out and make some!"
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