Page 3 - November 2005 The Game

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, November 2005 3
ImportantVote for CTHS (Ontario) Members
The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario Division) Board of Directors invited their current membership roster of 491 members to a information meeting on October 11, 2005 during which two proposals were being presented to ultimately determine the location of future CTHS Sales venues in Ontario.
Held in the existing Sales Pavilion at Woodbine Racetrack, the evening meeting was attended by more than 100 people, 77 of which were CTHS (Ontario) members who registered before the start of the presentations.
The Board of Directors had felt it necessary to call the meeting due to the importance of the outcome of the decision along with the divided views of the Directors themselves on which was the best for the future of selling thoroughbreds in Ontario.
In late 2003, the CTHS of Ontario were given control of selling thoroughbreds in Ontario with the condition that they have to find a new venue for their Yearling and Mixed Sales by the year 2006. This gave the CTHS Board of Directors the task of finding a new home in as little as two years. Extensive searches of existing venues as well as available properties for sale bared little fruit until early in 2005 when a possible site in Guelph became available. The site was strongly being considered.
At the same time the Board had also approached Woodbine Entertainment Group with a proposal to keep the Sales at Woodbine and after considerable negotiation, a proposal which suited both parties was finalized.
However the Board was divided on which way to proceed.
The two proposals were presented in the meeting on October 11 followed by a question and answer session which revealed some of the pro’s and con’s of eachproposal.
The Board of Directors of the CTHS of Ontario are planning to let their membership make the decision by an audited vote through a mail-in ballot in the coming months.
The future of thoroughbred sales in Ontario rests on this important vote by the members and it is in everyone’s best interest that members be informed about each proposal before casting their ballots.
The CTHS of Ontario will be mailing out information packages to all of their members which will include the details of each proposal. A Video or DVD copy of the entire meeting is also available to all members by request.
For more information contact the CTHS (Ontario Division) office at 416-675-3602 or email cthsont@idirect.com
Fort Erie to Eliminate some Stakes & Allowance Races in ‘06
DVD makes Great Gift Idea
With Christmas not too far around the corner, you might want to start thinking about a unique gift for the horseman in your life. Clive Cohen of New Image Media, at Woodbine, can custom make a DVD which can include up to 24 races from this year or
previous years (some restrictions).
The custom made DVD can include favorite races along with
winning races. Each race has its own custom on-screen button so you can go directly to the race you wish to view. Starting at $19.00 per race, a custom DVD would make a terrific gift.
For more information contact Clive Cohen at his New Image Media Office at Woodbine, 416-675-7223 ext. 3283
CTHS Ontario Winter Mixed Sale
The CTHS of Ontario is expecting close to 200 horses to be offered at this year’s Winter Mixed Sale which is scheduled for December 3 & 4 at the Woodbine Racetrack Sales Pavilion.
The sale currently has 189 horses in its catalogue and is expecting supplementary entries to bring the numbers closer to 200.
Fifty percent of the horses being offered are broodmares, some of which are in foal to many good Ontario sires as well as some out of town sires such as Candy Ride.
Julie Coulter of the Ontario Division of the CTHS is anticipating the Mixed Sale will be as successful as this year’s Yearling Sales which were held in September.
Catalogues will be available in early November.
The bidding starts at 6:30 pm and the CTHS is inviting everyone to join them and pick up a free fleece toque.
For more information contact the CTHS at 416-675-3602 or visit them on line at cthsont.com
Did You Know...
That Jockey Agent Tom Patton is now handling the book for Woodbine jockey Simon Husbands. Tom also handles the
book of jockey Jono Jones at Woodbine.
Vancouver City Council accepts Public Benefits Package
The Vancouver City Council voted in October to accept the Public Benefits Package that Hastings had offered as part of the slots package for the racetrack.
The Public Benefits Package includes a $100,000 Legacy Fund; 44 day care spaces; a groom school; and a learning center; as well as hosting and contributing $50,000 a year to local charities.
Because of the city’s acceptance of the Benefits Package, an application was able to be sent to the Development Permit Board which will have to approve the application.
If approved, Hastings could see the slots up and running in time for the 2006 racing season opener in April.
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Due to the declining slot revenue at Fort Erie Slots at Racetracks, which is the racetrack’s major source of purse revenue, the purse structure for the 2006 racing season at Fort Erie will be considerably different.
Fort Erie is planning to eliminate some of the Stakes races and most allowance races in 2006 in an effort to increase and/or maintain the purses for the low-end claiming races.
The new structure will benefit those competing at the $5,000 claiming level which makes up 60 percent of the racetrack’s horse population. The purse for the $5,000 level will be raised from $10,000 to $13,000 in 2006.
The slot revenue at Fort Erie has taken a dive in the past few years after going from $350 per machine daily (at the height of the revenue stream) to a projected $170 per machine daily in 2006.
The $500,000 Prince of Wales, the second leg in the Canadian Triple Crown series, and the $250,000 Bison City Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Tiara Filly Series, will remain untouched. All other stakes are under review however the series of Cup races, which was introduced in 2005, will not be eliminated.
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