Page 19 - December 2005 The Game

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
The Game, December 2005 19
The Woodbine HBPA Backstretch Office will remain open seven days a week from 7am-3pm until Friday, December 16. The office will be closed on December 17 & 18 and re-open Monday to Friday 7am - 3pm , December 19 to 23. The Woodbine backstretch office will be closed from December 23 at 3pm and will re-open on January 30, 2006 at 7:00am.
While the backstretch offices are closed it is recommended that you contact the Administration Office which will keep regular office hours throughout the winter months form Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday thru Friday, except for holidays. Call 416-747-5252.
The Fort Erie HBPA Backstretch Office is closed for the season. The office will re-open again on March 1, 2006. Anyone needing assistance will be asked to contact the Woodbine Backstretch Office at 416-675-3802 or the HBPA Administration Office at 416-747-5252.
HBPA President
Pollock presents
Sean Lewis was named the Soccer League’s MVP for 2005
HBPA Update
HBPAAdministrativeOffices:135Queen’sPlateDrive,Suite370,Toronto,ON,M9W6V1 phone:416-747-5252
Trainer Testing for 2006
The Assistant Trainer/Trainer testing schedule has been set for the 2006 season.
The first testing of the season will be held at Woodbine on March 20 & 22 and at Fort Erie on April 19 & 21. Trainer testing will also be held on May 8 & 10 at Woodbine; July 10 & 12 and September 18 & 20 at both Woodbine and Fort Erie.
For more information contact the HBPA Backstretch Office during winter opening hours at 416-675-3802.
Report from the Executive Director
Last month, I was honoured to speak at the annual Racino conference hosted by the American Gaming Association at Dover Downs, Dover Delaware. If you think Racinos are not significant consider the fact that Racinos represent the fastest growing sector of the US commercial gaming industry, generating nearly $2.9 billion in gross gaming revenues in 2004 - a 30% jump over 2003. With Pennsylvania and other states set to open racinos in the near future, the positive outlook for the sector is undeniable.
My presentation was focused on the
reality of Gaming's impact on the Horse Racing Industry in Ontario. The economic impact to our economy including the 40,000 full time jobs, the $1.3 billion in annual wages and salaries, is that we are the third largest agricultural sector next to dairy and beef.
Our industry has grown in leaps and bounds since the introduction of slots in December 1998. Although now leveled off, total purse payments in the horse racing industry (thoroughbred and standardbred) have gone from $125 million in 1998 to just under $300 million in 2004. Higher purses lead to more investment and of course, economic spin-offs such as jobs and taxes.
In the US in 2003, the latest year for which figures are available, slot machine players and casino gam- blers provided $149 million or 14% of the total purse distribution according to the Thoroughbred Racing Association (TRA). Racing officials estimate that the 2004 figure will likely be $200 million given higher revenues at tracks in New York and New Mexico. To put some credence to this number, total purse distribution in the US was $1.09 billion in 2004. Even
if no new legislation is passed in the US , the racing industry's dependence on this form of revenue will increase over the next few years exceeding $400 million annually. This in comparison to the $900 million that pari-mutual wagering currently provides for purses each year is quite significant in itself. The Aqueduct casino which is slated to open in the fall of 2006 is expected to pump $80 million annually into purses in New York. In Pennsylvania that number will exceed over $100 million in thoroughbred purses. The Pennsylvania slot bill permits:
7 Racinos at state racetracks (four harness and three thoroughbred); 5 stand alone casinos; and 2 resort licenses. Anticipated slot play in Pennsylvania when fully operational is estimated at a staggering $30 billion with an anticipated "NET WIN" of $3 billion. The slot win money will be divided as follows: 48% to operators, 34% to the State, 5% to economic development, 4% to local communities, and 9% to PURSES. If the slot win is $3 billion, that means $270 million will go to racing purses, shared 50/50 between thoroughbred and standardbred.
Who benefits? The State, the Tracks, the Horsemen and of course, the Fan.
In Delaware, a state with a population of only 800,000, total pre-slot purses at Dover Downs were $800,000. After slot purses are now $23 million. At Sunland Park, New Mexico, in 1998 average daily purse distribution was $30,000. Today the average daily purse distribution is $225,000.
I think that we can conclude that; once considered optional, alternative gaming is now mandatory throughout North America.
HBPA Winter Office Hours
Executive Director Nick Coukos
HBPA Woodbine 2005 Awards Dinner, November 8
Vice Bruce (right) Jenson Moore with the 2005 HBPA Woodbine Groom of the Year Award. Jenson has been grooming horses for 27 years and has been work- ing for trainer Reade Baker for the past 4
years and has had 30 wins with Reade. He is originally from Barbados where he began in the business of horses as well as holding a second job in the catering business. Jenson moved to Canada in 2000 and enjoys his job as a groom. He currently rubs five horses including his favourite Perigee Girl. “The best thing about my job is seeing my favourite horses.” says Jenson.
The other nominees for Groom of the Year were James Gordon (Glenn Magnusson), Maria Garrigan (Andrew Smith) and Kristina Roberts (Mike Keogh)
HBPA President Conrad Cohen (right) presents Yvonne Kaiser with the 2005 HBPA Woodbine Assistant Trainer of the Year Award. Yvonne is an Assistant for trainer Roger Attfield. The other nominees for this year’s award were Assistants Amanda Bell (Catherine Day Phillips) and Jean Milligan (Scott Fairlie).
Members of the top soccer team accept their awards for the first place finish in the 2005 Backstretch Soccer League
Rudolph and Jeremy accept their awards for the second place finish of Team Saratoga in the 2005 Backstretch Soccer League
Assistant Trainer Jeffrey Bowen (left), presents HBPA President Conrad Cohen, with a token of appreciation for the generous sponsorship of the HBPA for the many backstretch sports teams.
Ted Holder accepts his award for the third place finish of Team Woodbine in the 2005 Backstretch Soccer League