“It’s a trial”
Fair vice-president aims to calm concerns over lack of horse racing
Brome Fair Vice-president Lee Patterson says that the decision to replace the horse races at this year’s fair with a demolition derby is all about trying something new.
“We are not anti-horse racing” Patterson said, “We just want to try something else.”
The Vice-president acknowledged that the decision is the cause of some frustration among some fair-goers, but argued that it is important for the fair to try new things every couple of years.
“It doesn’t mean we’ll never have horse races again,” he said, pointing out that this is not the first time the fair has switched up its programming in this sort of way and highlighting the fact that the organizers are keeping their permit to be able to host races so that they can continue to do so in the future. “It’s a trial,” he added.
While trying to keep their options open with regard to the horses, Patterson said that there is a growing interest among fairgoers in “motor sports” including pulls and events like the demolition derby. That in mind, and faced with shrinking turnouts to the races, he said that the fair organizers wanted to give the derby a try.
The vice president also said that the decision might have been different if the fair had been the only venue in the region hosting the races, but as true fans have other opportunities at events like the Ayer’s Cliff fair, it didn’t seem like not hosting races during the fair would be a major problem. He also extended the invitation to horse-racing enthusiasts to organize events at the fairgrounds on another weekend, pointing out that a dedicated event might actually prove to be more successful.
When it comes to the derby, Patterson said that the main changes that are needed have to do with safety and security on site. In addition to the specially crafted ring of concrete blocks that needs to be put together, the Lac Brome and Sutton fire departments will both be on site to help oversee the event, which is a last-man-standing competition of specially modified cars running into each other, as well as a higher than usual ambulance presence.