Page 19 - July 2005 The Game

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
The Game, July 2005 19
HBPA Update
HBPA Annual Backstretch Picnics
Report from the Executive Director
Are you ready to have some fun?!
Because the HBPA Annual Backstretch Picnic at Woodbine is just around the corner on Monday, July 11. The picnic will be held just inside of the East Security Gates on the Woodbine backstretch.
Fun for the entire family, the picnic will feature clowns, face painting, pony rides, adult turf races, as well as running, sack and three-legged races for the kids.
The HBPA will also be providing a free food and refreshments along with a free gift for all of the children. Any backstretch worker interested in participating in
the Turf Races please contact the HBPA backstretch office at 416-675-3802.
Fort Erie’s Picnic at Sherkston Shores once again
The popular HBPA Annual Backstretch Picnic for Fort Erie will once again be held at Sherkston Shores. This year’s picnic is scheduled for Thursday, August 18, rain or shine. Tickets will be available at the HBPA backstretch office during the first week of August. Listen for the announcements!
Owners Appreciation Day
The 2005 National HBPA summer convention will be hosted by the Ontario HBPA this month at the beautiful Westin Habour Castle in downtown Toronto. It has been over ten (10) years since we have been selected to host this event and the excitement is building as we get closer and closer to July 20. The convention is of course, repre- sented by horsemen throughout North America and is a great forum for us to “compare notes” and work on issues of significance which affect us all in today’s complex operating world.
To have the ability to address contemporary issues with fellow horsemen such as a) Education, b) Medication, and c) Simulcast Wagering and Alternative Gaming is of great importance to the development of our culture and industry as a whole.
Education in itself, should be at the forefront of any mandate we as an organization can have currently. We need to ensure that we enhance the quality of our workforce continually in order to create an environment that will be able to meet the needs of the industry. For decades we have struggled as an industry in accomplishing this goal and there is no question that education should be at the top of the solution list.
From the medication perspective, our industry must deal with the inconsistencies that are abound from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Do other professional sports allow different rules in different arenas? Obviously not. Could you imagine the confusion that would be created to the most important piece of the puzzle, THE FAN, if we had different rules and penalties at
different venues.
Finally, I have identified the
area of Simulcast Wagering and Alternative Gaming which is an area that is very close to my heart. Why, because in the informational technology world, the survival of our whole industry relies on its success. As a general policy, the National HBPA endorses simulcasting and it’s byproduct of enhanced revenue back to the racing industry. The National HBPA realizes that simulcasting as a category in the overall scheme of
the racing industry offers great potential in improving purses. However, clear strategies need to be implemented to allow the industry to adapt to the changes associated with simulcast wagering. The objectives must always ensure that a) a fair distribution of simulcast revenue between horsemen and sending tracks are main- tained, and b) promoting expanded legal and authorized wagering opportunities are explored.
Instead of relying on the “slots at racetracks” program to grow our industry, our focus as horsemen should be to continue on a joint effort basis with our tracks to endorse reasoned meth- ods of developing simulcast policy. Simulcast signals must be marked in a way that allows fair distribution of revenue to both the track and horsemen, and that the security of each signal is guaranteed.
I cannot overstate that SIMULCAST REVENUE LIABILITY IS TOP PRIORITY.
These, and several other issues of importance will be dealt with in depth this month in Toronto. Perhaps history can be made in our own back yard.
Executive Director Nick Coukos
The HBPA Annual Owners Appreciation Days are fast approaching.
HBPA & Nordic Gaming Corporation’s Owner Appreciation Day at Fort Erie is scheduled for Sunday, July 31 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm in the tents in front of the jockey’s room.
HBPA & Woodbine Entertainment Group’s Owner Appreciation Day at Woodbine is scheduled for Sunday, August 14 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm in the Gala Tent at the east end of the grandstand.
There will be complimentary food and refreshments as well as a free gift and ballot draw.
Seating is limited and you must have a valid 2005 ORC license as Owner and/or Trainer to attend.
Rain or Shine.
Please RSVP to Catherine at 416-747-5252 to arrange for your ticket to be mailed. No entrance without ticket.
August Trainer Testing at Woodbine
The next Assistant Trainer/Trainer testing will be held at Woodbine on August 8 & 10. Completed applications must be in the HBPA office by 3pm on July 25, 2005.
Health and Safety
Backstretch Workers Needed to Take Standard First Aid Course
As you are aware the HBPA is aiding the trainers to reach industry standards for Health and Safety. We need to have 140 people take a Standard First Aid Course. We are asking Trainers and Assistant trainers to take the course as we need people who will hopefully not be leaving Woodbine in the near future so we do not need to retrain.
Courses will be held in July and August on Mondays and Tuesday.
For more information on the First Aid course or to sign up contact the HBPA Backstretch Office at Woodbine 416-675-3802.
Thank You
Shedrow of the Month
Congratulations to both David Bell and Layne Giliforte who are the co-winners of Shedrow of the Month for June 2005 at Woodbine. Shedrow of the month winners receive $100.00 from the HBPA and $100.00 from WEG.
Congratulations to Erika Winkelmann (barn 4A) for winning Shedrow of the Month for June 2005 at Fort Erie. Shedrow of the month winners receive $100.00 from the HBPA.
The HBPA would like to extend a special ‘Thank You’ to trainer Kim Dobson for organizing a very successful “Alex’s Lemonade Stand” at Fort Erie on Belmont Stakes Day, June 11, 2005.
Prince of Wales Day at Fort Erie is July 17, 2005
Visit the HBPA on-line at
www.hbpa.on.ca
for
• HBPA Benefit Information • Calendar of Events
• Committee Reports
• Health Benefit Forms
• Job Postings & More!
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings
Every Tuesday at 1pm HBPA Trailer Backstretch Woodbine Racetrack