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Rideau Carleton
Rideau Carleton is a horse-racing track in Gloucester, Ontario, Canada. It opened in 1962, at the Albion Rd S but concluded its racing program starting in the 2026 season.
History of Rideau Carleton
1962 – Rideau Carleton Raceway opened for live harness racing on September 1, 1962. The track was the brainchild of James William Baskin, a horseman, businessman, World War II R.C.A.F. veteran, and former Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament for Renfrew South.
1960s – Baskin spent several years working to bring a modern harness racing venue to the Ottawa area. He selected a site of roughly 300 acres on the outskirts of Ottawa in Gloucester Township, close to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. Baskin also organized an advisory group of experienced horsemen to help shape the new operation. The goal was not just to build a racetrack, but to create a working racing center that could support the Ottawa Valley’s Standardbred community.
1962 – Architect and building director D’Arcy Helmer helped design the facility. One of the most interesting notes in the track’s origin story is that Helmer had designed hospitals and schools in the Ottawa Valley but had not previously visited a racetrack before working on Rideau Carleton. He drew inspiration from Scioto Downs in Columbus, Ohio. Rideau Carleton also became known as a five-eighths-mile harness racing oval. Hard Rock’s later historical materials describe it as Canada’s first five-eighths-mile oval.
1970s to 1990s – Rideau Carleton grew into a regular stop for Eastern Ontario harness racing. Its race cards were built around local horsemen, overnight races, Ontario-bred competition, and signature Standardbred events.
2000 – The property added slot-machine gaming through the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. This helped transform Rideau Carleton from a traditional harness racing venue into a racino-style gaming and entertainment complex.
2010 – By the 10th anniversary of OLG Slots at Rideau Carleton Raceway, the facility had approximately 1,250 slot machines and had welcomed more than 15.9 million visitors since the gaming operation opened.
2017 – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation selected Hard Rock International as the casino partner for the Rideau Carleton site. This move set the stage for the property’s transformation into Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa.
2023 – Rideau Carleton’s paddock was destroyed by fire on February 15, 2023. The Ottawa harness racing community moved quickly, converting an old barn into a temporary paddock so the season could begin on April 2 after only a short delay.
2023 – Construction also began on the broader Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa development at the Rideau Carleton site. The project was designed to bring hotel rooms, gaming, dining, live entertainment, and new visitor amenities to the property.
2025 – Rideau Carleton Casino began construction on a brand-new paddock ahead of the track’s 63rd racing season. The new paddock was planned for completion by summer 2025 and was presented as a major racing infrastructure investment.
2025 – Rideau Carleton’s 2025 harness racing season opened on March 23 with the first of 71 approved race dates. The season was scheduled to run through December 14, 2025.
2026 – However, despite the construction and rebuilding, Ontario Racing and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa announced that Rideau Carleton Raceway would conclude its racing program starting with the 2026 season. The announcement marked the end of a long harness racing chapter in Canada’s capital region.
Track Details
Main Harness Track
- It is a five-eighths-mile oval.
- It was built for Standardbred harness racing.
- It was used for trotters and pacers.
- It had a listed speed rating of 1:57.4.
- It has a compact oval layout with tighter turns than a one-mile track.
- It was located on a property of approximately 300 acres.
- It sat near Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.
- It has been described by Hard Rock as Canada’s first five-eighths-mile oval.
Grandstand and Clubhouse
- It had a grandstand seating capacity of approximately 4,500.
- It had a clubhouse seating capacity of approximately 1,000.
- It had a combined listed spectator capacity of approximately 5,500.
- It provided viewing areas for the main harness track.
- It included indoor guest areas for race viewing and events.
- It served as the main spectator facility for the raceway.
Paddock
- It served as the staging and preparation area before races.
- It was designed for horses, horsepeople, racing staff, and race operations.
- It had a new paddock project announced in 2025.
- It was planned as part of the property’s racing infrastructure improvements.
Barn Area and Tack Rooms
- It included 12 fireproof barns.
- It included 96 tack rooms.
- It had backstretch facilities for horses racing or stabled at the property.
- It had tack-room space for harness racing equipment and horse-care supplies.
Other Facilities
Hard Rock Casino Ottawa
- It includes approximately 1,500 slot machines.
- It includes up to 40 table games.
- It has a high-limit gaming area.
- It includes more than 150,000 square feet of entertainment and gaming space.
- It has a reimagined gaming floor connected with dining, hotel, and entertainment amenities.
Hotel
- It includes 150 guest rooms.
- It includes 22 luxury suites.
- It is connected with the casino, dining, entertainment, and event spaces.
- It is part of the larger Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa property.
Dining and Bars
- It includes 10 restaurants and bars.
- It includes the Hard Rock Cafe.
- It includes Council Oak Steaks & Seafood.
- It includes casino bars and lounge areas.
- It serves hotel guests, casino guests, event guests, and racing visitors.
Entertainment and Events
- It includes Hard Rock Live.
- It has entertainment space for concerts, live shows, and special events.
- It includes event and hospitality spaces.
- It is connected with the broader gaming, hotel, dining, and entertainment complex.
Parking and Access Areas
- It has free parking.
- It has a separate family entrance on the south side of the building.
- It is located at 4837 Albion Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1X 1A3.
Retail and Memorabilia
- It includes the Rock Shop / Unity Store.
- It sells Hard Rock-branded merchandise.
- It includes signature Hard Rock amenities.
- It includes Hard Rock music memorabilia displays.
Race Schedule and Major Events & Races
Rideau Carleton Live Racing Schedule
Live Racing Schedule
Major Races
Ontario Sires Stakes- Coville Cup
- Frank Ryan Memorial Trot
- Des Smith Classic Pace
- Brian Jerome Memorial Pace
Location and Access to the Racecourse
- Rideau Carleton Raceway is located at 4837 Albion Road in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- The property sits in the Gloucester area of Ottawa.
- It is located near Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.
- The track was originally built on roughly 300 acres.
- Its location made it accessible for:
- Ottawa-area racing fans
- Eastern Ontario horsepeople
- Visiting bettors
- Casino guests
- Travelers coming into the capital region
- James William Baskin’s original site selection was strategic because the property was close to Ottawa, near the airport, and positioned for future road access.
Contact
- 4837 Albion Rd S, Gloucester, ON K1X 1A3, Canada
- Phone: +1 613-822-8668
- https://www.rideaucarletoncasino.com/racetrack.asp
Other racetracks are sorted and listed on the page “List of Racetracks”. To view the full list, hit the button below. You can also check the horse racing types and breeds to have a lot more in-depth knowledge about horse racing.
Rideau Carleton
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