Doug McCallum sets out steps to bring harness racing back to Cloverdale by fall 2027
Surrey's mayor-elect says the City will rebuild the Cloverdale Fairgrounds barns and racing oval and sign a new racing lease, the Surrey Now-Leader reports. He says the Province must also commit.
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Surrey mayor-elect Doug McCallum says the City will rebuild the barns and the racing oval at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds, with harness racing back in the fall of 2027. He set out the steps in a statement on October 20, the Surrey Now-Leader reported on October 21.
The steps
McCallum listed three, according to the Now-Leader: rebuild the backstretch barns and the racing oval, sign a new long-term racing lease, and bring the Harness Racing BC office back to the Fairgrounds. He said the work will start when the new council is sworn in. The report gives no cost.
McCallum said three groups have to commit. The City owns the Fairgrounds and would rebuild the barns. Harness Racing BC brings the horses and the people. The Province licenses racing, approves race dates and controls the gaming money that pays the race prizes.
Why he spoke now
The statement followed a pledge by Lorne Doerkson, leader of the Conservative Party of BC, to work with the City of Surrey and Harness Racing BC on racing in Cloverdale, the Now-Leader reports. McCallum said he welcomed it, and that council will be ready to meet Doerkson and Harness Racing BC on the day it is sworn in.
The track
Fraser Downs ran in Cloverdale for close to 50 years, the Now-Leader reports. Daily Hive reported that the operator closed the track in August 2025, after the City of Surrey ended its lease. In his statement, McCallum said the track was shut down in August 2025 and the barns came down in December. He also said 218 members of Harness Racing BC lost the track. That figure is his own.
The promise
The plan matches a campaign promise. In a release on October 8, McCallum committed that a council with a majority from his slate would rebuild the barns and oval and sign a new racing lease, with the fall 2027 meet as the target. The Safe Surrey Coalition now holds eight of the nine council seats, according to the City's official declaration of October 21.
The promise is tracked on McCallum's page in the Surrey promise tracker. The new council holds its first meeting on Monday, November 2.
Questions this story answers
What did Doug McCallum say about harness racing in Cloverdale?
Doug McCallum said in a statement on October 20, 2026 that work to bring harness racing back to Cloverdale will start once the new Surrey council is sworn in, the Surrey Now-Leader reports. He aims to have horses racing at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds again in the fall of 2027.
What steps does McCallum plan for the Cloverdale Fairgrounds?
Doug McCallum listed three steps, according to the Surrey Now-Leader: rebuilding the backstretch barns and the racing oval at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds, signing a new long-term racing lease, and bringing the Harness Racing BC office back to the Fairgrounds. Daily Hive reported that his campaign release of October 8 gave no cost for the work.
Who has to agree before racing returns to Cloverdale?
Doug McCallum said three groups must commit: the City of Surrey, Harness Racing BC and the Province, the Surrey Now-Leader reports. He said the City owns the Fairgrounds and would rebuild the barns, and that the Province licenses racing, approves race dates and controls the gaming money that pays the prizes.
When did harness racing end at Fraser Downs in Cloverdale?
Doug McCallum said in his statement that the track was shut down in August 2025 and that the barns came down in December. The Surrey Now-Leader reports that racing ended after the City cancelled the raceway lease, two weeks before the fall racing season of September 2025 was to begin.
Why did McCallum issue a statement on October 20?
Doug McCallum issued the statement after Lorne Doerkson, leader of the Conservative Party of BC, pledged to work with the City of Surrey and Harness Racing BC to bring racing back to Cloverdale, the Surrey Now-Leader reports. McCallum said he welcomed the commitment.
Was the racing plan part of McCallum's campaign?
Yes. In a campaign release on October 8, 2026, Doug McCallum committed that a council with a majority from his slate would rebuild the Cloverdale Fairgrounds barns and racing oval and sign a new racing lease, with a target of the fall 2027 meet. Daily Hive reported that the release gave no cost.
How many people does McCallum say lost work when the track closed?
Doug McCallum said in his statement that 218 members of Harness Racing BC, along with grooms, trainers, drivers, farriers, veterinarians and farm families, lost the track when it closed. The figure is McCallum's own, as reported by the Surrey Now-Leader. His October 8 release credits it to Harness Racing BC.
Where can I follow the Cloverdale racing promise?
The promise to rebuild the Cloverdale Fairgrounds barns and track, with racing back by fall 2027, is on Doug McCallum's page in the voche.me Surrey promise tracker. Its status changes when council votes on it or the City publishes an official record about it.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Surrey Now-Leader: Incoming Surrey mayor issues statement on Conservative commitment to rebuild Fraser Downssurreynowleader.com
- Safe Surrey Coalition: release on the Cloverdale Fairgrounds barns and racing, October 8, 2026safesurreycoalition.ca
- Daily Hive: Doug McCallum promises to rebuild Cloverdale Fairgrounds horse racing facilitiesdailyhive.com
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