Blue Bonnets (raceway) facts for kids
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| Location | Decarie Boulevard Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
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| Date opened | 1872 in Lachine June 4, 1907 on Decarie Blvd. |
| Date closed | October 13, 2009 |
| Course type | Flat (until 1973) and harness |
| Notable races | Prix d'Été |
The Blue Bonnets Raceway, later known as the Hippodrome de Montréal, was a famous place for horse racing in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was also home to a casino. This exciting track operated for 137 years before it closed its doors on October 13, 2009.
After being empty for almost ten years, the buildings at the site started to be taken down in mid-2018.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Blue Bonnets
The Blue Bonnets Raceway has a long and interesting past. It was a major spot for horse racing for many years.
How the Raceway Started
In 1905, a man named John F. Ryan created the Jockey Club of Montreal. This club then opened the Blue Bonnets Raceway on Decarie Boulevard on June 4, 1907. It quickly became a popular place for people to watch horse races.
Big Changes and Famous Races
In 1958, Jean-Louis Levesque made big improvements to the Blue Bonnets Raceway. He built a fancy new clubhouse that cost millions of dollars. By 1961, the raceway was so popular that it started to compete with other big racing tracks in Ontario. From 1961 to 1975, Blue Bonnets hosted the Quebec Derby, a special annual horse race that Levesque had created.
The Metro Station and New Ownership
When the Namur metro station was built close to the Blue Bonnets Raceway, some people wondered if its location was chosen to help the racetrack. Others believed it was meant to solve future traffic problems.
In 1995, the city government bought the track and changed its name to Hippodrome de Montréal. It was then run by a provincial government agency. The Hippodrome offered harness racing (where horses pull a driver in a two-wheeled cart), betting on races from other places, and many video lottery terminals and slot machines.
Why the Raceway Closed
After many years of operation, the Hippodrome de Montréal faced financial difficulties, leading to its closure.
Bankruptcy and Final Closure
On June 27, 2008, the company that ran the Hippodrome, Attractions Hippiques, had to ask for protection from bankruptcy. This meant they stopped horse racing and most other activities. Only the gambling machines and betting on other races continued for a few more months. However, the provincial government eventually stopped its support. Because of this, Attractions Hippiques declared bankruptcy on October 13, 2009, and the racetrack closed for good.
What Happened to the Site After Closing?
After the Hippodrome closed, the large area sat empty for a long time, and its future was uncertain.
Concerts and Demolition
In July 2011, the famous rock band U2 used the empty site for a huge outdoor concert.
On March 23, 2012, the Government of Quebec announced it was giving the land back to the City of Montreal. The agreement stated that the city would share half of any profits if the land was sold. It also said the land couldn't be sold until 2017 and needed to be cleaned up. However, this agreement was never officially signed, which left the future of the site unclear. Plans to tear down the buildings by 2014 also didn't happen, so the racetrack and clubhouse stayed abandoned for nearly ten years. Finally, in the summer of 2018, the demolition of the old racetrack began. The plans for what will be built there in the future are still being decided.
See also
In Spanish: Hipódromo de Montreal para niños
