Page 32 - 13 April 2012

CANADA
Ontario horse racing battling to save slots.
Without the “Slots At Racetracks” program, horse racing in Ontario is set to take a monumental downturn.
by Kim Ito
The battle between the Ontario horse rac- ing industry and the provincial government continues to mount as trainers get closer to the start of the 2012 season. With Ajax Downs opening for training on April 10, there is sure to be a gloomy undertone to what is normally an exciting day full of promise for the upcoming year’s racing.
On March 12, 2012, horsemen across the prov- ince received news from the Ontario government that the “Slots At Racetracks” program would be ending as of March 31, 2013. For those who are unaware of what is going on, the Ontario “Slots At Racetracks” program is a revenue sharing agree- ment between Ontario Lottery and Gaming, track owners, municipalities and horsemen’s groups.
The Ontario Quarter Horse Racing Industry Development Program (QHRIDP), which funds Quarter Horse racing stake purses, breeding incen- tive programs, purse enhancements for Ontario bred horses, employment programs and many other specialty programs, receives its revenues from this arrangement. These agreements were brought into effect to compensate the horse racing industry for the government’s role in establishing slot parlors in direct competition with horse racing wagering. It also allowed government to establish slot parlours at venues that were already associ- ated with gambling, making for easier acceptance by the general population. Without the “Slots At Racetracks” program, horse racing in Ontario is set to take a monumental downturn, the repercus- sions of which are apparently unappreciated by the provincial government.
Leading the charge to “Save Ontario Horse Racing” is the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA). Comprised of representa- tives and industry stakeholders from all breeds racing in Ontario, OHRIA is marketing itself as the “One Voice” of the Ontario horse racing indus-
try. OHRIA has been very busy in the past weeks with a “grassroots” campaign, aimed at educating the public on the benefits of the industry for the Ontario economy. Through billboards, ads and even car magnets, OHRIA is trying to spread the word to the general public, most of whom have
no idea what effect decimating the horse racing industry will have on the province. As their website, value4money.ca states:
A Strong Horse Racing Industry Makes a Strong Ontario:
• It is estimated a total of 60,000 Ontarians are
employed either full time, part-time or seasonally as
a result of the Horse Racing Industry in Ontario. • A total $1.5 billion in wages and salaries in Ontario
are sustained annually by total expenditures of the Ontario horse racing and breeding industry. This total is 50 percent larger than the $1 billion in 2000.
• Direct and indirect investment stimulates local economies with demand for products and services in rural Ontario provided by veterinarians, black- smiths, hay and grain supplies, transportation workers and harness and saddle makers.
• The Ontario Horse Racing Industry spends approximately $2 billion dollars per year on goods and services relating to their trade. 80 percent
of that money ($1.6 billion) is spent primarily in rural, agricultural communities.
It has become increasingly more important to get
this information to the public over the past few weeks, as the government has been fighting hard to discredit the horse racing industry, using destructive ad campaigns
Member of Provincial Parliament Joe Dickson.
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SPEEDHORSE, April 13, 2012
AROUND THE GLOBE
Laurie Overton