Northside Downs celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2018. The track debuted as North Sydney Trotting Park when it first opened in July 1898. Former owner Charlie Ballard, who operated the venue between 1930-1950, passed it on to local farmers with the understanding that it would continue to host live harness racing.
Northside’s annual J.A. Ferguson Memorial Pace is named in honour of Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame inductee James Archibald Ferguson, who led the formation of the Cape Breton Turf Club in the late 1940s.
Thirty Northside Downs race dates have been approved for 2021, beginning Saturday, May 15 and running most holiday and Saturday afternoons through November 20.
May
- Sat May 15, 2021
- Sat May 22, 2021
- Sat May 29, 2021
June
- Sat June 5, 2021
- Sat June 12, 2021
- Sat June 19, 2021
- Sat June 26, 2021
July
- Thu July 1, 2021
- Sat July 3, 2021
- Sat July 10, 2021
- Sat July 17, 2021
- Sat July 24, 2021
- Sat July 31, 2021
August
- Mon August 2, 2021
- Sat August 7, 2021
- Sat August 28, 2021
September
- Sat September 4, 2021
- Mon September 6, 2021
- Sat September 11, 2021
- Sat September 18, 2021
- Sat September 25, 2021
October
- Sat October 2, 2021
- Sat October 9, 2021
- Mon October 11, 2021
- Sat October 16, 2021
- Sat October 23, 2021
- Sat October 30, 2021
November
- Sat November 6, 2021
- Sat November 13, 2021
- Sat November 20, 2021