Page 16 - January 2008 The Game

16 The Game, January 2008
CARD Open House
Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
CARD, the Community Association for Riding for the Disabled, held their annual Open House at their Dufferin Street Facility on December 3.
PTair of Broodmares Top CTHS Winter Mixed Sale he 2007 CTHS Winter Mixed Sale ly out of Northernset, who sold for $23,000 to was held on December 1 at the Paul O’Brien. A Storm Boot lly topped the
CARD helps to improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities through their qual-
ity therapeutic riding programs. Under the supervision of registered
therapists, certi ed instructors, skilled equestrian staff, and dedicated volunteers, riders gain greater physi-
cal, cognitive, psychological and social skills.
sales pavilion at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. 115 horses
were sold for a gross
total of $568,300, down
slightly (4.1%) from the 125 that sold for $592,300 in 2006.
Two broodmares
shared the limelight
as the Sale top-
per, selling for
$35,000 each. Aoife,
a four-year-old mare
by One Way Love and
believed to be in foal to
Wando, went to purchaser Jack Johnson. Out of the Vanlandingham mare Sandhill Charm, the mare was consigned by Schonberg Farm, Agent for Gustav Schickedanz. Red Skimmer, a Gulch-Frayne mare, believed to be in foal to Langfuhr, was purchased by Paul O’Brien.
The top weanling was a Bold Executive l-
HBPA Ontario Update
yearling session, selling for $15,000 to Rich- ard G. Hogan, Agent. Out of the Discover mare Re
Lyd, the lly was con- signed by Hill ‘N’ Dale Sales Agency, Agent. Topping the nal session was Feverish Dream, a Ward Deputy-Natural Gold lly consigned by Windways Farm, Agent. The dark bay was purchased by Hooman Akbary from London,
England.
Complete sales results, including results
from past CTHS Ontario sales, are available on-line at www.cthsont.com/sales.php. For additional information, please contact the CTHS Ontario of ce at (416) 675-3602.
Information provided by Barbara Sheridan, CTHS Ontario.
Abbey Simbrow
(left), the new Executive Director and Fundraising Co-Ordinator Bonnie Hartley, were on hand to
meet and greet the many guests. For more information on CARD
and how you can help support their programs call 416-667-8600 or visit www.card.ca
HBPA Administrative Of ces: 135 Queen’s Plate Drive, Suite 370, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6V1 Phone: 416-747-5252
Report from the Executive Director
The release of “The Economic Impact of the Unfair Treatment of
Horse Racing and Breeding in Canada” completed in October of 2007
by McMaster University has allowed me to once again write about
the importance of our quest in our industry to bring about a change
in our income tax laws with regard to horse racing. It has been well documented for many years and most recently a full throttle approach
was taken by our industry last winter to educate our government on the
unfair tax treatment that section 31 bequests on our industry. As we are
aware, our current tax laws are discouraging investment in our industry
by capping the loss at $8,750 per year. This cap on deductibility has
caused a decline in the number of part time owners who are willing to invest in racehorses. The net result of this anti-competitive tax regime is that it chases investment out of the Canadian horse breeding and racing sector and threatens the industry’s nancial future.
What the economic impact study does is articulate the devastating effect that could result in the future with the current treatment in this section of the income tax act.
Another very important fact that the study has concluded is the fact that the Canadian horse racing industry competes for horses with the United States. Canadian horses are often sold, particularly those of high quality, to American owners who often outbid Canadian purchasers. American horse race opera- tors are able to deduct their entire operating losses against their total income if they are deemed to operate the business with a reasonable expectation
Let’s consider the economic impacts the Canadian Horse Racing Industry and how and where the spending associated with our industry creates an economic engine that fuels the economy. “More than 10 million patrons attend horse
races in Canada. In 2006 they wagered over $1.7 billion and spent a consider- able amount on food and beverage and other related expenditures. The industry is credited with nearly $2.1 billion of expenditures in 2004 dollars. A total of $314 million is spent by the tracks on concessions, advertising, labour, and
other operating expenses. The largest expenditures ($776 million) are made at the racing stage. These expenditures include wages and bene ts for labourers, agent’s fees, vet care, stud fees, utilities, property taxes, etc..
of pro t. The unfair Canadian tax treatment puts Canadian operators at a competitive disadvantage with their closest competitors and it is estimated that Canadian owners lose between $50 and $75 million a year in export potential of high quality horses to Japan, Europe and the US because of such constraints.
In summary, expenditures on Horse Racing, Breeding and other related
Without a fair tax treatment and a level playing eld for this industry we will without question jeopardize not only the growth of our industry, but also the continuation of sustaining economic bene ts to all. Let’s continue the ght for fair and equitable treatment by eliminating the discriminatory effects of Section 31.
HBPA Trainer Testing Schedule 2008
HBPA Woodbine Backstretch Office Hours
The HBPA Backstretch of ce at Woodbine will re-open on January 29 at 7am and will be open Monday to Friday from 7am to 3pm.
activities were nearly $2.1 billion in 2004. Furthermore, the Cana- dian horse racing and breeding industry is credited with creating:
$4.8 billion in Sales
$2.6 billion in value added (GDP)
40 thousand full time jobs or about 100,000 part time and seasonal jobs
$1.6 billion in wages and salaries
$1.9 billion in tax revenues to all levels of government
To conclude that the breeding and racing of horses in Canada based on the above data is a serious business that contributes to the economy as a whole at a large scale would be a safe bet.
Applications for Trainer and Assistant Trainer testing are due two weeks prior to the test date. Only complete applications will be accepted. Applications will be available at the Woodbine HBPA Backstretch Of ce February 1, 2008. HBPA Trainer and Assistant Trainer Testing Schedule 2008:
May 28, 2008 - Both Woodbine and Fort Erie Racetracks
July 9, 2008 - Both Woodbine and Fort Erie Racetracks
March 26, 2008 - Woodbine Racetrack April 23, 2008 - Fort Erie Racetrack
September 24, 2008 - Both Woodbine and Fort Erie Racetracks
For more information contact the HBPA Back- stretch Of ce which re-opens at 7am January 29, 2008, 416-675-3802.
The HBPA Administrative Of ce will remain open dur- ing regular business hours throughout the winter months. If you need assistance call the Administrative Of ce at 416-747-5252.
The Game January 2008.indd 16
12/20/07
10:07:36 PM