Page 14 - April 2005 The Game

14 The Game, April 2005 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Chuck Keeling’s first job around the racetrack his grandfather and father built was to sell tip sheets at 10 ¢ apiece—he was eight years old.
The constant succession of changes in the BC racing scene are finally looking positive thanks to a firm commitment from Great Canadian Gaming Corporation to rejuvenate the sport. Great Canadian, the company that bought Hastings from Woodbine Entertainment last year, purchased Fraser Downs and Sandown harness tracks on Vancouver Island last month, making them the largest racetrack operator in British Columbia. One of the more significant moves to come out of this recent acquisition is the naming of former Fraser Downs GM, Chuck Keeling as Great Canadian’s ‘Vice President in Charge of Racing Operations’ for both Thoroughbred and Standardbred tracks.
Keeling’s hands-on approach to the operation of Fraser Downs was a strong factor in the tremendous improvements to that facility, improvements to the grandstand, the working environment (and number of jobs), the attendance and, most importantly to horsemen, the purses. To see the hustle and bustle of construction at the racing facility at Cloverdale, B.C. (compared to only a
few short years ago when the operation’s office was staffed with three people one of who was Chuck’s mother) is evidence of the commitment and talent he brings to our industry.
At 33 years of age Chuck Keeling is probably the youngest GM in horseracing. But then he literally grew up in the sport working many different jobs in the business his grandfather and father built. A reluctant volunteer he was thrown into the management of the family business after a tragic boating accident took his father life. He proved more than able to handle the task. Now in his new roll as the man in charge of racing he will oversee the operation of racing at three major racetracks in the province.
"My mandate will be to oversee the management and ideally growth of both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing," he says.
Keeling’s appointment will, of course, bring a certain amount of disaffection and suspicion among thorough- bred people as the old rivalry between the breeds rears it’s ugly head but he seems to under- stand that, for the most part, it is a
thing of the past. "It’s not been demonstrated to me explicitly yet but I’ve been very frank with anybody who brings it up that I am cognizant of it’s being a concern and I think that the
only way I can demonstrate to the Thoroughbred sector that I will be impartial is it to be partial to the development of horse racing in the province through the decisions we make to develop both sectors of the business. I can appreciate how they can have a hard time imagining me taking off my Standardbred cap I’ve worn for 25 years but that’s my mandate from Great Canadian and I have every intention of delivering."
"David Willmot was as thorough- bred as they come and upon his involvement as CEO at Woodbine he bought a Standardbred to demonstrate his interest was horse racing. I don’t think it’s that difficult to make the jump from one sector to another. Technology and various business developments have forced that upon everybody in the industry through simulcast, teletheater and Internet wagering and the political issue around slot machines the issue would have been a lot bigger ten years ago than it is today."
To prove his point Keeling has already bought a share of a thorough- bred and plans further involvement as opportunities arise.
On his personal ‘want to see list’ his thoughts lie in the redevelopment of our sport.
"So much of the long term future of Hastings hinges on resolving the out- standing issues with the city around the lease and development permits. It’s a fabulous facility in terms of the location, the vista, the sight lines and history of the place and there are enough fundamentals, some nice attendance numbers last year and the atmosphere I thought was positive there, a younger demographic, so I don’t think I can contribute much over what they’ve already achieved. I think that our emphasis will be on moving forward with the redevelopment of the facility."
"I’d like to think that we can inject a sense of irreverence. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t take what we do seriously. There’s a lot on the line. A lot of people make their livelihood from this game so we obviously have a level of professional responsibility but at the same time we’re not in the business of saving lives. At the end of the day we can argue that this is gambling or we can argue that this is sport but I like to think of it as entertainment with a gaming/sport element to it. If it’s entertainment then let’s enjoy what we do. Let’s have a sense of fun. Let’s have a sense of irreverence. Let’s not take what we do so seriously that it’s going to negatively impact the impression we convey to the people that walk through the front doors and pay our wages at the end of the day.
"It comes down to attitude. If there’s anything I’d like to do over the long term I would like the people [at Hastings] to know that they play an incredibly important role in terms of generating the type of atmosphere we’re looking for and the level of service we’re looking to provide. And to let them know that maybe some of the certainty and stability they have been looking for over the last ten years that finally we’re there and that the business has stabilized and we can start to grow it now."
Always an active hand-on person Keeling had this to say about his approach to Hastings.
"I’ll have an office at Hastings and envision 70% of my time there, 20 % of my time at Fraser Downs and 5% at head office. I think the only way I’m going to understand the thoroughbred sector is if I’m hands- on. Not conflicting with Michael Brown’s day-to-day role but pounding a lot of pavement in the grandstand and on the backstretch so I know who the players are and the people are and what’s going on there."
Irreverence eh! I can almost see the picture...
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