Two of the 14 race days cut from Fraser Downs’ 2010 season have been restored. An Aug. 13 letter from Derek Sturko, chair of the BC Horse Racing Industry Management Committee, announced Great Canadian Gaming was chopping 14 days out of the track’s season between Oct. 15 and Dec. 31.

The decision came as attendance and wagers at the Cloverdale pacer track continue to fall. On Thursday, Sturko told the Now an agreement has been reached to add four additional race days - Oct. 1, 2, 8 and 9 - while cutting Dec. 17 and 19 from the schedule.

“Those days in December aren’t productive, they’re too close to Christmas,” Sturko said. “So we’re adding four very productive days in October and removing two unproductive days in December.”

Great Canadian also asked to have all of its 2011 race days rescinded by provincial gaming officials while it tries to find a way to hold races without losing money. Sturko, an assistant deputy minister of Housing and Social Development and head of the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, said he believes the suspension of the 2011 season is only temporary.

“It is our belief there will be racing next year at Fraser Downs.”

Sturko also said Great Canadian has dropped the idea of splitting next year’s racing between B.C. and Alberta to reduce operating expenses at Fraser Downs.

“It has not been well received by horsemen in either province,” he said.

Talks with industry stakeholders will resume today (Friday) in an attempt to come up with new ideas to save racing. Sturko repeated his belief there will be racing next year at Fraser Downs, but said he thinks the number of race days will be reduced.

“I suspect it will be a shorter season. How much shorter I couldn’t say.”

Great Canadian spokesman Howard Blank said his company has poured millions into racing at Fraser Downs, but attendance is still declining.

“If no one comes to the race track, we go the way of the dinosaur. It’s not just Fraser Downs, it’s the whole industry. We’re in a crisis situation and we’ve got to pull up our bootstraps and work together to find a solution.”