Ontario Horseracing Industry in Jeopardy

[barb craven]

Our friends in the U.S. may or may not know that the racing industry in Ontario, not only thoroughbreds, but standard breds and quarter horses is in a precarious condition due to our Provincial government's decision to withdraw the slots from some facilities this year and the rest next year.
I have been asked by some concerned friends to post this u tube video by OHRIA to make more people aware of what's happening here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw4EW...&feature=share

[Mr.Pagine]

Barb,

Thanks for posting the video - a friend close to the situation tells me that the NDP and Liberals will come up with a plan to change the current plan.

The slot money will be taken away slower than planned.

Happy Punting,
JD

[trotman]

Barb, this whole racing game is about to implode and not because of this government here or in the US. The people who were to look after the industry and the horsemen and fans sat quite while watching it go down hill. It is a constant he said they said attitude and the end is very close. There should be 1 commisioner and 1 ruling body for N.A, and 1 set of allowable medications, "PERIOD". But I have to ask. If horseracing is not important to the government then why do they race almost year round?. Because of the MONEY, period. The greed is in every level.

[trotman]

Well Fort Erie is getting or should I say preparing for the shutdown after this 2012 season provided they have horses. When the Liberals said they were making changes the other two parties,NDP and Conservatives said we will not let this minority government have their way with the Ontario racing game and yet nothing happened but lip service. They are all in it for themselves and if the racing game should die so be it. That's the message I get and I challenge anyone to prove me wrong. I remember Frankie Merrill's Puss"N"Boots jumping the rail for a swim, I was there to see Frank jump in after the horse.
I was there in a newly minted Woodbine to see Northern Dancer win the plate. I was there when Secretariat ran his last race at Woodbine. I have memmories this or any other government will never take away from me, but in the end we may not get to see many great memmories yet to come all because of greed and power. Yes this is sad times for us all.

[Ted Craven]

FWIW, here is a Press Release from the Ontario Government today regarding a "transition program" for the Ontario Racing industry. This may amount to a kick in only 1 cheek instead of 2, but at least there is some sign of a consultative transition, other than cut and run.

* * *

Published: June 7, 2012 11:51 am ET

A release from the Liberal government on Thursday officially announced the transitional fund established to "help the horse racing industry transition from the Slots at Racetracks program to a more sustainable, self-sufficient model."

Consultations will be led by a panel of three former cabinet ministers -- Elmer Buchanan, John Snobelen and John Wilkinson. The panel will:

• Work with the industry to help develop a vision for the future.
• Provide recommendations to the government on how to allocate transition funding.
• Advise on the modernization of other industry revenue sources to assist the industry in becoming more self-sufficient.
• A final report from the panel is expected in late summer 2012.

"Our government understands that ending the Slots at Racetracks program and responding to market demands poses a challenge for everyone involved in the horse racing industry. That's why we are committed to helping the industry move toward greater self-sufficiency without government support," offered Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance.

According to the release Ontario will provide up to $50 million over three years in transition support to the industry, and Employment Ontario will help displaced workers in the industry find jobs and training.

Consultations on Transition of Ontario Horse Racing Industry

The government has committed to working collaboratively with the horse racing industry as it transitions to a self-sustained business model and creates a vision for its future. To assist with this transition, the government has asked an expert panel of three former Ontario Cabinet Ministers, Elmer Buchanan, John Snobelen and John Wilkinson, to consult with the industry to determine how the government can support the transition of the sector, including the allocation of up to $50 million in program funding.

The panel issued the following group statement:

We are happy to have the opportunity to work alongside the industry and provide them with our support as they develop a vision for their future. We recognize that the horse racing industry is at a crossroad and has challenging decisions to make as it considers its future opportunities. We look forward to hearing from stakeholders on their needs and priorities, so that decisions can be made on how to best assist the industry during this time of transition toward self-sustainability. To help inform our recommendations, we invite stakeholders to submit comments. We are particularly interested on the following identified areas of concern:

• Specific challenges businesses in the industry are facing during this time of transition
• Specific issues facing displaced workers and their training needs
• Specific suggestions on the delivery and allocation of transition funding
• Specific suggestions or considerations regarding equine welfare

Individuals and groups are encouraged to channel thoughts and ideas through your industry associations during the consultation period.
Following the consultation period, the Panel expects to provide recommendations in a final report to government by late Summer.
Please submit comments below, email horseracingtransition@ontario.ca, use the Panel feedback form or mail to:

Horse Racing Industry Transition
c/o Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food & Rural Affairs
1 Stone Road West
2nd Floor
Guelph, Ontario
N1G4Y2

[barb craven]

As a former inside, high level employee and later consultant to government, I can see the standard route government takes when they want something to go away. Form a committee, ask for reports and recommendations, file a report and shelve it. That should take at least a couple of years and the hope will be that the issue should fade from public eye by then, or it will be someone else s problem.
Pardon me if I'm not hopeful.

[wilbur porter]

Dear Barb,
I've been following your posts and find myself sighing a bit. It seems a waste that the politicians would cut off the lifeline of racing in Ontario. I only watch Fort Erie and Woodbine occasionally and to my eyes the races seem more even and steady than many of our U S brands. Perhaps I've become a racing fan too late.
I only live one mile from Thistledown... I know, don't laugh. It is as bad as it's reputation. I still have memories of new barns and large crowds from some 50 + years ago. But now it's a wreck and we have a new hole-in-the wall casino in downtown Cleveland... The powers that be got what they wanted. Legalized casinos in Ohio.
Supposedly the rumors were that when Ohioans passed a levy to legalize casinos in Ohio, that the state government would later amend the laws to permit "video slots" at the racetracks to help promote the horse racing industry here. Well, guess what...
It has been announced that Beulah Park is moving to the "Youngstown" Ohio area in 2014 as a new "Racino". There is an apparent attempt to move Thistledown from the suburban Cleveland area into a "Racino" near Akron Ohio (Only 35 miles from Cleveland) with promises to rebuild the "horse racing industry" in Ohio.
Watch out Mountaineer fans. Austintown Ohio is only 50 miles from Mountaineer and will only be 70 miles from the "New Thistledown" in Akron. And Presque Isles Downs less than 100 miles away. If you thought the entries per race at Mountaineer and Presque Isles Downs have fallen of late, you haven't seen anything yet. The new Beulah Park will probably run concurrently with Mountaineer and the "New Thistledown" due to the harsh winters in the area. Penn National will own the Beulah Park racino.
Supposedly the new casino and racino owners ( AKA Dan Gilbert and Ceasars's Entertainment ) were supposed to reinvest money into the race tracks but so far old Thistledown is decrepit as ever... they will eventually move. It may be that the "racinos" were a ploy for the big boys to get their casinos into Ohio. This area is economically depressed. There's no way that this area can support so much gambling and in the long run it will be the race tracks that suffer. Of course the owners of Mountaineer aren't too concerned...They already own Presque Isle Race Track and Casino and the new "Scioto Downs" harness racing Racino near Columbus. They'll continue to make their money . Eventually what is occurring in Ontario will repeat itself here and many other venues in this country. Enjoy Mountaineer while yo may.

[barb craven]

Sad but true Wilbur. Thanks for posting the state of things in your area Wilbur.
I just looked at my notes on the history of horse racing in Toronto alone. At the turn of the century there used to be ten race tracks in Toronto. It was the place to go for all walks of life.