June 19, 2013

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Kathleen Wynne Addresses Horse Racing Participants

In a letter addressed to the horse racing industry late on Monday, June 17th, Kathleen Wynne reiterated her promise to create a “strong, sustainable future for the horse racing industry in this province.”

Her letter appears below:

The new Ontario government believes in a strong, sustainable future for the horse racing industry in this province. We have a plan, guided by the report of the Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel, for a way forward that will put the industry on a sustainable path –- and while we’ve already made a lot of progress, we know there is more work to be done.

We have committed up to $180 million to support the industry over the next three years as it adapts to a smaller and more sustainable model. Agreements for transition funding have been signed with 12 racetracks and there will be horse racing at 15 tracks right across the province this season. Details about those agreements are publicly available on the Ministry of Agriculture and Food website.

Last week, I was happy to announce that the government would support the Horse Improvement Program –- which will total up to $30 million in each of the next two years -– to give Ontario’s vibrant racehorse breeding industry the confidence that there is a future here for Ontario-bred racehorses.

The Horse Racing Transition Panel has spent hundreds of hours working with stakeholders. In their report, they recommended a new market-driven model that works for the industry and is good public policy. This model will include integrating horse racing with the modernization of the province’s gaming strategy, which will provide additional revenue sources for racetracks.

I have asked the Panel to consult with the industry over the summer and to present a detailed a plan for the future of horseracing in Ontario by October 2013 that would see the industry take ownership for its long term future success. Those consultations will begin on June 21, and I encourage everyone who has an interest to share their views.

I know how important the horse racing and breeding industries are to the culture and economy of communities across Ontario, and that is why our government will continue to work with the industry to ensure that it has a strong, sustainable future.

– Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Agriculture and Food

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Premier Wynne Attends North America Cup, Congratulates WEG And Mohawk

Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne was on hand at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday night for the 30th edition of the North America Cup, and made two special presentations.

“I want to congratulate Mohawk on 50 years of good, strong industry in the province and I want to say that the reason I’m here is because I want us to have a strong horse racing industry in the province of Ontario,” said Wynne. “I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that we can have a horse racing industry that’s strong for years and years to come. Another 50 years for Mohawk!”

Wynne presented Woodbine Entertainment Group CEO Nick Eaves with two certificates from the province of Ontario, congratulating WEG for 50 years of harness racing at Mohawk and for 30 years of conducting the prestigious North America Cup .

Wynne then concluded with an address to the horse racing industry.

“I want to work with you, I look forward to – as I say – many, many more years of a strong horse racing industry in Ontario.”

Prior to the presentation, Wynne took time to talk to horsemen in the paddock and on the tarmac in front of the grandstand.

(Standardbred Canada)

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Ontario To Fund Horse Improvement Program Into 2015, Says OMAFRA Release

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs issued a release on Friday, June 14th announcing the continuation of its financial support of the Horse Improvement Program for the next two years. the Ontario Sires Stakes is one of the programs funded by HIP.

The OMAFRA press release reads as follows:

Ontario is extending its support of the Horse Improvement Program into 2015 to encourage the breeding of quality Ontario racehorses.

Up to $30 million will be made available through the program in each of the next two years to support the racehorse breeding sector and invest in equine research. This is in keeping with the recommendations made by the Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel after hundreds of hours of consultation with stakeholders. This will boost support for Ontario-bred horses and enable breeders to continue to invest in the horse racing industry.

Committing to a sustainable future for the horse racing industry and the integration of horse racing into the province’s broader gaming strategy is part of the new Ontario government’s plan to create jobs and help people with their everyday lives.

(OMAFRA)

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The Canadian Sportsman Provides Special Handicapping Section For North America Cup Program

The Canadian Sportsman, in conjunction with the Woodbine Entertainment Group is proud to present this special handicapping section which will be inserted in the race program for Saturday’s Pepsi North America Cup card at Mohawk Racetrack.

A pdf of the section has been posted on Pepsi North America Cup website and is available by clicking here.

 

 

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Changes To Mohawk Morning Schedule For Cup Week

Mohawk Racetrack would like to remind all horsemen that rookie qualifiers will occur this Friday, June 15, instead of Saturday, June 15 due to the Pepsi North America Cup.

For this week only, Mohawk will open its doors for horsemen Thursday morning for training between 7 a.m. until noon, as no training will be allowed on Friday.

Also, horsemen are advised that no training is allowed on mornings of baby races.

(WEG)

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Ford Brothers Push To Re-Open Woodbine Casino Debate At Toronto Council

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and his brother Councillor Doug Ford have vowed to persuade City Council to revisit the issue of expanding Woodbine Racetrack to a full-fledged casino.

At the same meeting last month where councillors delivered  an overwhelming thumbs-down to a downtown casino, they also nixed the idea of Woodbine expansion, this by a 24-20 vote.

Read the complete story here in The Globe and Mail.

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OLG’s Phillips Responds To OHRIA’s Concerns

Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corp. President & CEO Rod Phillips responded to the concerns raised by the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association recently with a letter dated Monday, June 3rd.

Phillips’ letter appears below:

Re: OHRIA Sounds Alarm Over RFPQ, Sole Bundle Operators

OLG will be working closely with the Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel to integrate horse racing into Ontario’s gaming strategy so I’m glad there is attention being paid to the issue. I’m writing to clarify a few issues that have been raised recently.

OLG’s modernization of gaming is an opportunity to bring private sector expertise into our business. OLG’s procurement process was designed very carefully to ensure that it is fair and competitive.

In fact, OLG’s procurement process presents an opportunity for racetracks. Racetrack owners/operators may compete in this public procurement on the same basis as other vendors. Another option is for owners/operators to join with a larger consortium or group to become a partner in a gaming facility. This would mean generating additional revenue (beyond rent) from a facility on racetrack property.

OLG is grouping some of its gaming zones into gaming bundles. The bundles are designed to make the day-to-day operation of the businesses more efficient for service providers. As we know, customers tend to be drawn from geographic areas–and they often visit a number of facilities in the same region. So bundling will allow easier cross-marketing and cooperation between groups of facilities.

It’s important to note that Gaming Bundles will not mean the merging of current or proposed facilities, or Gaming Zones. There will be just one facility in each Gaming Zone.

As part of modernization, OLG is working with the government to ensure that horse racing is integrated with the provincial gaming strategy to ensure future revenue streams for the industry.

OLG is moving forward with approved government policy to help make Ontario’s lottery and gaming industry a long-term success.

When the modernization of lottery and gaming is complete, additional revenue will be available to help fund provincial priorities such as hospitals and municipal infrastructure. In addition, a modern OLG will help create thousands of jobs and drive more than $3 billion in capital investments across Ontario.

Sincerely,

Rod Phillips
President and CEO

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Star Leafs Defenceman Jake Gardiner To Be Drawmaster For $1Million Pepsi North America Cup

Jake Gardiner, star defenceman for the Toronto Maple Leafs, will be the special celebrity drawmaster for this year’s $1 million Pepsi North America Cup.

Gardiner, 22, will be on hand to assist with the noon media event to draw post positions, set for Tuesday, June 11, at Mohawk.

The Pepsi N.A. Cup will take place Saturday, June 15 at the Campbellville track.

Gardiner was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League in the first round, 17th overall, in 2008.

On February 9, 2011, Gardiner, along with Joffrey Lupul, was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs and at the of the 2011-12 season, Gardiner was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team after scoring 30 points in 75 games with the Leafs.

On May 6, 2013, Gardiner became the first Toronto Maple Leaf to score a home playoff goal since Mats Sundin did in 2004, a span of nine years and two days.

Fans can connect with the star defenceman via twitter at @JGardiner272.

The Pepsi North America Cup is the richest race for pacers in North America.

(WEG)

 

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ORC Advises Trainers On Avoiding Inadvertent Positive Tests

The Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) is reminding licencees to be vigilant when medicating horses.

In an effort to provide horsepeople with relevant, useful information, the ORC has released its first public YouTube video.

In this new episode, Lehman and ORC Manager of Veterinary Services Dr. Adam Chambers discuss how trainers can avoid inadvertent positive tests. Commencing June 1, the video will be broadcast in-house at Ontario racetracks with the cooperation of ON Track Media Entertainment.

Here is a summary of the video content, as well as more information on how to avoid inadvertent positive tests.

1. Read the CPMA Schedule of Drugs booklet – thoroughly!

Trainers should familiarize themselves with the full contents of the booklet. Go beyond simply reading the drug name and its withdrawal time. Be sure to check the dosage, the route of administration, and how many times the drug was given.

2. Use a reliable source for your medications

Purchase your medications from reliable, recognized sources, such as your licensed ORC veterinarian. Some sources, like some internet sites do not label these products accurately. ORC has tested products ordered from internet sites. While oftentimes the names of these products infer a powerful performance enhancing effect, the true contents of the majority of these products are benign at best and potentially harmful at worst.

Trainers should also be aware of the risks of using compounders. Analysis of some compounded medications revealed drug content that was often quite different than stated quantities.

The US-based Racing Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC) is cautioning US horsepeople, and shared a report on its website. “Compounding pharmacies are going largely untracked, unregulated and under-inspected by states across America.”

3. Do not “over medicate” your horse

Trainers are urged to minimize the number of drugs given to a horse. For example, if your horse needs an anti-inflammatory, administer only one – not two or three. There are few reliable studies examining how administering multiple drugs will affect individual withdrawal times.

Be vigilant with respect to all ingredients

According to Dr. Chambers, trainers – and veterinarians – should satisfy themselves of the true contents of anything administered to horses prior to racing. “You need to be vigilant with respect to all ingredients. Check the label and ask questions of those dispensing products.”

(ORC)

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OHRIA Expresses Grave Concern About OLG Rolling Ahead With Modernization Plan

The Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA) is concerned that the integration of horse racing into the OLG’s Gaming Strategy will be impossible if the existing OLG Modernization Plan continues to go forward.

The OLG’s announcement of the RFPQs for their Southwest Gaming Bundle puts Ontario’s horse racing industry at further risk of collapse because the existing Modernization Plan does not allow for racetrack operators to submit a proposal to operate the slots that already exist in their racetracks.  The current “bundle” proposal that requires a single operator for all six gaming zones in the Southwest would further eliminate individual racetracks from consideration as hosts.

The Government won’t know the final strategy on how horse racing will be integrated into the Modernization Plan until October 2013, a full two months after the latest RFPQ deadline for the Southwest Bundle, which contains five OLG Slots at racetracks.

The commitment by Premier Wynne to integrate horse racing on March 6 resulted in the Horse Racing Transition Panel being re-struck with specific reporting deadlines on the strategy for horse racing integration.

OHRIA has been grateful for Premier Wynne’s efforts over the past few months, but is concerned that the latest OLG move does not allow the local racetracks in Ontario’s southwest to get a fair chance at integration.

“Western Fair, Clinton, Dresden, Woodstock and Hanover Raceways fall into the Southwestern region zones and they could potentially lose their zones before the integration strategy for horse racing is finalized,” said Sue Leslie, President of OHRIA.  “We thank Premier Wynne for her commitment to horse racing, but are concerned that integrating the industry will be meaningless if racetracks in Northern, Eastern and Southwestern Ontario lose their zones to other gaming operators due to OLG decisions before integration has occurred.”

Fourteen of the Provinces 17 racetracks will have 2013 racing seasons, however, the horse racing industry needs a long term revenue stream to compete with the overwhelming gaming competition from the OLG which will only increase with their existing Modernization Plan.

“All we are asking is for time to ensure that the Panel, after consulting with OHRIA and industry participants, can report back to the Premier and that horse racing can be integrated before the OLG’s expansion continues.  We’d like the Premier to tell the OLG to halt its RFPQ process province-wide until October, until integration decisions have been finalized.”

The Panel’s report, due in October, will help the Government decide how integration should go forward beginning in 2014.

 

 

 

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