Despite uncertainty about Fort Erie Race Track's long-term future, it looks like live action will be back for 80 days next season at the 110-year-old border oval, as management at the track filed their race dates with the Ontario Racing Commission this week.

"It looks like business as usual, which is great news," Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor said Wednesday. "Now it's up to us, at the provincial level, to provide the assistance the horsemen are looking for to be successful in the future."

This past race season, which ran from May 5 through Oct. 30, 84 days were scheduled, down from 104 last year. The reduction was caused by a drop in revenues from Ontario Lottery and Gaming slots, which covers a portion of the purses and track operations.

The Ontario Racing Commission had set Oct. 31 as the date to file race dates and times for next season.

But in early October, executive director John Blakney told Osprey News the agency was "flexible in terms of times and dates" for Fort Erie as negotiations between the track's owner and the province to try and come up with a solution to keep the struggling facility afloat were ongoing.

Blakney confirmed the racing commission received the track's submission and will now, through standard practice, circulate it to gauge industry input, comments and possible objections before approving the request.

Queen's Park recently offered what Craitor has called a solution to keep the track open.

He received a call from Premier Dalton McGuinty's office last month, outlining steps the province is willing to take to maintain the track's viability.

Exactly what the solution is has not yet been made public. Neither Craitor nor Mayor Doug Martin, who took a similar call, will elaborate.

"I stressed the matter yet again at Queen's Park (Tuesday) with the premier's office and his chief of staff," said Craitor. "I clearly indicated the importance of what a positive decision would have on the employees at the track, for the horsemen and for the entire racing industry in Fort Erie."

Craitor would not speculate on when an announcement would come from the provincial government, but said he will "continue pushing."

"Hopefully sooner, rather than later, we can move forward with a recommendation on how to finalize this issue and resolve what is a very important situation for everyone involved."

Declining revenue at the track's slots facility has led to smaller purse sizes and shorter racing seasons in recent years, making the track a less- attractive venue for thoroughbred owners.

Track owner Nordic Gaming, which has proposed a $300-million revitalization project, wants the province to provide a larger share of revenue from the slots over the next two seasons to bolster race purses and help offset operating costs while the revitalization plan is in development.

The company fears its project will be worthless without a short-term incentive for owners to bring their horses back to Fort Erie year after year.

Martin said he has been in "constant dialogue" with Craitor and his provincial colleagues regarding the immediate request of the province, as well as the long-term $300-million proposal