Page 19 - November 2005 The Game

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
The Game, November 2005 19
The HBPA of Ontario held their Annual General Meeting on September 29 at Verdi’s Hospitality Centre in Mississauga. Executive Director Nick Coukos chaired the meeting and the majority of the HBPA Directors were in attendance along with HBPA President Conrad Cohen and HBPA Vice Presidents Bruce Pollock and Bill Diamant.
HBPA Update
HBPAAdministrativeOffices:135Queen’sPlateDrive,Suite370,Toronto,ON,M9W6V1 phone:416-747-5252
Report from the Executive Director
As we reach deep stretch in our live
2005 thoroughbred race season in
Ontario with Fort Erie now completed
and Woodbine at the 1/16th pole, our
planning now begins for 2006 racing in
the province. At Woodbine, 2006 will
re-position itself with 168 live racing
dates with an opening day kick off set
for Saturday April 1st and a closing
date set for Sunday December 3, 2006.
This racing calendar reflects a more tra-
ditional program with a start date two
weeks prior to the current 2005 sched-
ule. In order to accommodate the earli-
er start with the goal of maintaining and
even increasing field size, the backstretch will open for ship-in on Sunday February 12, 2006. The training track will be open for training the next day, that being Monday February 13, 2006. With a current December 11, 2005 closing day, that means that we will only be away from the track for two months this winter. This ten month live cycle can only benefit all thoroughbred horsemen in every practical aspect of our industry. At Fort Erie, the live race schedule will be benchmarked at 104 days of racing with opening day set for Saturday April 29, 2006 and a closing day set for Tuesday October 31, 2006. Weather permitting, ship in date will be forty five days prior to opening day which would be-- March 16, 2006. This again, will increase and expand racing and its economic impact in Southern Ontario. Although the Woodbine live sched- ule is set in stone, at Fort Erie, the racetrack and HBPA have agreed to closely monitor the horse supply for 2006 with the aim of increasing days if possible. Our goal is of course to race as much as possible and if we can provide the product, we have agreed with man- agement to expand the schedule.
On a completely different note, this year’s International Simulcast conference which was origi-
nally scheduled for New Orleans and relocated to La Jolla, was international in the true sense of the word. Representatives from South Africa, Australia, and Europe were abound throughout the three day event. Canada, and more specifically, Ontario was well represented by Woodbine Entertainment Group, including Vice President’s Steve Mitchell and Sean Pinsonneault, two representatives from Nordic Gaming (Fort Erie), namely Chad Gates and Daryl Wells Jr, Beatrice Lall, Project Manager, Canadian Pari-Mutual Agency, and of
course yours truly representing the thoroughbred horsemen of Ontario. Of the many topics discussed and debated at the conference, two topics grabbed my attention. The topic of net pool pricing and the practi- cal issues arising from international merged pools was well discussed. What is net pool pricing? It is a method of calculating prices that allows multiple sites in a net- work to use unique commission rates to generate indi- vidual site specific odds. Why is it important? It is a CPMA requirement and with out Net Pool Pricing, we cannot bet into international pools. The impact of co- mingled pools in the first two months are of course very impressive. Depending on the track, handle has increased between 10% and 57%. Canadian wagering at Emerald Downs for example has increased by 57% once we were allowed to bet directly into their pool. Our advantages are of course evident. From a US per- spective, the commingling advantages are: 1) handle comes from a highly regulated pari-mutuel environ- ment, 2) customers are familiar with the product, 3) increase in pool size, 4) simulcast decisions are made by individual associations, and 5) no longer at the mercy of separate pool wagering. This arrangement can only be a win-win for all jurisdictions and our industry as a whole. It is what the customer wants!!!!
Executive Director Nick Coukos
Out of Canada Winter Workers must Apply for B1 Early
Due to the volume of B1 Workers Permits requested at this time of year, the HBPA is asking that all backstretch employees who are planning on working in the U.S. this winter, have their B1 applications into the HBPA office at least one week prior to the date you are scheduled to leave.
For information on the required documents needed for working in the U.S. this winter, you can contact the HBPA backstretch offices at Woodbine and Fort Erie.
Important Information for Pension Plan Members
The Annual Record of Employment (ROE) form for 2005 will be sent out to all HBPA Pension Plan members in the coming weeks. This form must be completed and returned to the HBPA by March 1, 2006.
If you are leaving the Province for the winter or if you do not receive a letter in the mail you can pick up the ROE form from the HBPA Backstretch Office or Administration Office.
Failure to submit a completed ROE Form will result in your immediate suspension for the HBPA’s Pension Plan.
If you require any additional information you can contact the HBPA Woodbine Backstretch office at 416-675-3802 or 1-800-268-9967 Ext 2249 or the HBPA Fort Erie Backstretch Office at 1-800-295-3770 Ext 3249/908-871-3200 Ext 3249.
Woodbine Backstretch Banquet
Ho Ho Ho Santa’s Coming!
The HBPA Annual Backstretch Children’s Christmas Parties are set for early December so be sure to mark your calendars.
This year’s Fort Erie Christmas Party is back and will be held on Saturday, December 3 at the Crystal Ridge Community Center at 99 Ridgeway Rd, in Ridgeway. The fun will begin at 12 noon and continue until 3:00pm with Santa making a special visit with gifts for all the good girls and boys.
Tickets are available at the Fort Erie HBPA Backstretch Office until November 4. The office is open daily from 7am to 3pm.
This year’s Woodbine Christmas party is once again an evening event and will be held from 5 pm to 9 pm at the Woodbine Backstretch Kitchen. The party will feature a traditional Christmas feast and refreshments. Santa will also be in attendance and will be handing out gifts to all the good girls and boys.
For those who wish to attend please sign up at the HBPA office before November 21 or call 416-675-3802 or 1-800-268-9967 ext. 2249.
Dust off your dancing shoes and get ready to put your best foot forward for the HBPA’s Annual Awards Banquet.
This year’s Woodbine HBPA Awards Banquet is scheduled for Tuesday, November 8 at LeJardin Banquet Centre on Hwy 27. Tickets are $15.00 and are on sale now. The evening includes a fabulous buffet dinner, along with awards and prizes and a DJ to let you boogie the night away. Tickets sell out fast and you must have a ticket to attend so make sure you get your tickets early. For more information drop by the Woodbine HBPA Backstretch office today.
HBPA Winter Office Hours
The Fort Erie HBPA Backstretch Office will close for the season on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 3:00pm. 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.
The Woodbine HBPA Backstretch Office will be closed from December 23, 2005 at 3:00 pm 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 from Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday thru Friday, except for holidays 416-747-5252.
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings
Every Tuesday at 1pm
HBPA Trailer - Backstretch Woodbine Racetrack
Shedrow of the Month
Congratulations to John LeBlanc Jr. and his crew who are the winners of Shedrow of the Month for October 2005 at Woodbine. Shedrow of the month winners at Woodbine receive $100.00 from the HBPA and $100.00 from WEG.
www.hbpa.on.ca