The Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA) has developed a strategy and is launching an intensive six-week grass-roots campaign to inform both the public and the Government of the economic impact of the horse racing industry in the Province of Ontario.

OHRIA has engaged the services of a public relations firm and will be calling on all industry stakeholders and ally organizations to help with this intensive strategy scheduled to launch early next week.

“You can rest assured that OHRIA, which includes representatives of the Standardbred, Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse Industries, is continuing to do all we can for the horse racing industry in Ontario,” commented Sue Leslie, President and Chair of OHRIA.

“Dialogue continues with the Province and the OLG, our Slots at Racetracks partners, and we are also launching an ongoing campaign to send a strong and positive message to Government and the public, of the importance and the economic benefits of the horse racing industry in Ontario.”

Additional information will be available as the campaign unfolds.

For more information contact:
OHRIA – The Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association
416-679-0741
email: ohria@ohria.com

Back in 1998, racing gave up its right to the exclusivity of legalized wagering in the province in order to participate in the revenue from slots machines installed at racetracks. As a result, purses soared, capital investments catapulted and horsepeople have been able to afford consumer purchases that have spurred their local economy.

Our share of the slots money has helped create a harness racing mecca that is envied all over North America. It has led our breeders to produce some of the finest standardbreds on the continent and to feel confident in both their horse and capital investments.

All this will be in jeopardy if the Liberal government takes the path suggested by the Drummond Report –installing slots in other locations, and either slashing or eliminating the slots money we’ve come to depend on.

Also, if slot money were to be eliminated, what would happen to the thousands of race horses in our province?

Since Finance Ministers Duncan’s announcement on Monday, February 13, 2012, your industry organizations have been working around the clock to deal with this issue both professionally and politically.

Already, The Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA), of which COSA is a member, has hired a publicist who is hard at work getting our story out. You’ll see the effects of those efforts shortly.

But organizations can only do so much. We have to depend on you as horsepeople to contact your local politicians. They need to hear your individual stories– how this action will affect you, your family, your employees and your suppliers. Please have this conversation with them now.

By contacting your local MPP you could help educate them on the importance of this issue.Here’s a list of local MPPs and their contact info.

Don’t forget elected representatives in your local municipalities. Many communities have come to rely on slots revenue for maintaining infrastructure and new community initiatives.

The Liberal government and the opposition parties need to know just how many of us will be affected by their proposed changes. You can find statistical ammunition about the economic impact of racing here.

Decisions are being made this minute on the contents of the Ontario budget due out in late March.

The time to have an impact on the future of Ontario harness racing is NOW!

Your individual voice has never been so important.

–Bill O’Donnell
COSA President

The Ontario horse industry is on the verge of disaster if Finance Minister Duncan follows through on his apparent  threat to attack the “slots at racetracks” program.

In spite of the fact that the government has been by far the largest recipient of slot funds they may now have concluded that the 75% they receive plus the 5% the municipalities receive is insufficient.
The remaining 20% (split 10% to the 17 racetrack operators and 10% to the
horsemen of all 3 breeds) has now been referred to as a “subsidy” to
the horse industry (one that may not be appropriate with so many other
financial demands on government).

The slots were supposed to increase investment in the rural sector and it has. Have a look at the Ontario
Stallion pool. Is there any doubt that there hasn’t been dramatic improvement
in this category? Is there any doubt that without slot revenues this type of
investment would not have been possible? There are many other examples to
illustrate the necessity of this business partnership.

Racetracks were chosen as the location for slots for number of very practical and sensible reasons. There was  already the infrastructure, the floor space and the acceptance of gambling on site. Tens of millions of dollars have been spent at the Ontario Racetracks to
accommodate the slot program. How is it appropriate to change the terms of the sharing agreement when so much money has been expended?

It is pretty simple–we either fight for our economic lives or we do nothing and see the horse business as we  know it make a dramatic change for the worse.

Everybody receiving this e-mail has a stake in this issue. If you don’t take action you share responsibility in the result. We are asking you all to contact the Minister of Finance, the Premier, your MPP, members of the opposition, any  contacts you have in media etc. In addition to this you all know others that you can forward this e-mail to who will be adversely affected if this change in
policy occurs. Have them do the same.

Attached are bullet points that you can refer to in your correspondence and addresses/phone numbers etc of some  of the appropriate recipients. Noting your personal involvement in the industry  is also vital. Blind copying me at this return address and OHRIA at ohria@ohria.com would be greatly appreciated.

There is no time to wait. Please get on this immediately and don’t stop until the battle has been won.

Regards,

Glenn Sikura,
President,
Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society

Standardbred Canada is strongly encouraging all members of Ontario’s immense harness racing community to stand united and make your voice heard for the future of horse racing in the province.

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan has suggested that in light of the Feb. 15th release of the Drummond report, the provincial government is planning to review the Slots at Racetracks partnership between racetracks and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.

Ontario represents the heart of Canadian horse racing.
•60,000 Ontarians are employed by the province’s racing industry.
•Horse racing produces 1.5 billion dollars of wages and salaries each year in Ontario.
•The horse racing industry is the second largest sub-sector of Ontario’s agricultural economy with an economic contribution in excess of wheat, eggs, poultry and hogs, combined in 2010.

“Now is the time for all of us to tell the Ontario government — and the rest of Ontario — why the OLG partnership is of such great benefit to the province as a whole,” said Standardbred Canada CEO John Gallinger.

“It is vitally important that we stand up for the livelihoods of Ontarians, and for their significant contribution to the Ontario agricultural, economic, and entertainment industries. It is also vital that we point out the immense benefits that horse racing brings to the Ontario economy.”

STAND STRONG. STAND UP. STAND UP FOR HORSE RACING IN ONTARIO.

Get on Facebook. Get on Twitter. Get on your email account. Get a pen and paper. Get this message out to the rest of the province — and to the rest of the country — in any way that you can to show Ontarians how important this issue is to you – and to them.

Remind them that:
•Over the last decade, annual expenditures by the horse racing industry in Ontario have increased by 67% to $2 billion dollars in 2010 from $1.2 billion in 2000.
•Approximately 80% of this expenditure occurs in Ontario’s rural agriculture communities where it provides much needed economic growth.
•The government share from Ontario’s horse racing revenue has increased by 27% over the last 10 years, with the province of Ontario receiving $261 million dollars a year from our industry… not including OLG profits from slot machines.
•Horse racing has played a vital role in this province for more than 150 years.

“We need to let the people of Ontario know that a vibrant horse racing industry not only makes significant contributions to government revenues, but to the health and economic prosperity of our province’s rural communities as well,” said Standardbred Canada Chair Tammy McNiven. “We are not only talking about wagering here… we are talking about tens of thousands of real people — real farmers, real horsemen and horsewomen and their children — to whom this OLG partnership means food on the table and a roof over their heads.”

WHAT NOW?

Send this call to action to everyone you know, and then act on it yourself.

——————————————————————————–

WHAT TO WRITE?

Send the above message, or use the information in it to draft your own personal message. Share it through Facebook, Twitter, email, and/or written letter to friends, colleagues, your local newspapers and news stations, your local MPP, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, Premier Dalton McGuinty, and opposition leader Tim Hudak.

For more information on the partnership between racetracks and the Ontario government, visit:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/2-13-12/ontario-review-racing-part…
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/files/Horse-Racing-Partnership-Highligh…
http://www.ohria.com/files/OHRIA%20Economic%20Impact%20Study%202010.pdf

Send your message here:
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/about/contactus/

Or via direct email to Dwight Duncan here:
dduncan.mpp@liberal.ola.org

You may want to CC Tim Hudak, leader of the opposition here:
tim.hudakco@pc.ola.org

And don’t forget your local MPP too!
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_current.do

——————————————————————————–

WHAT TO TWEET?

60,000 jobs are attributed to the #OntarioHorseRacing and breeding industry. Retweet, spread the word! http://goo.gl/Cu9xj

Gov’t revenues from the #OntarioHorseRacing industry are up 27% in the last decade! Retweet! http://goo.gl/Cu9xj

#OntarioHorseRacing & breeding industry is the 2nd largest subsector of agriculture economy! Retweet! http://goo.gl/Cu9xj

80% of #OntarioHorseRacing’s expenditures occur in and support rural communities! Retweet! http://goo.gl/Cu9xj

#OntarioHorseRacing 60,000 jobs, $261 million to provincial government, $138 million to local municipalities. Retweet! http://goo.gl/Cu9xj

(Standardbred Canada)

Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan sent shock waves through the provincial horse racing community today (Feb. 13) with remarks made during an address to the Economic Club of Canada.

Duncan told the group that an official announcement will be forthcoming on Wednesday based on Don Drummond’s economic report. However, he said that the government will be reviewing the $345 Million allocated to horse racing through its revenue sharing agreement  with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission. He indicated that taxpayers have been subsidizing racing since 1998.

“We are considering if government should be in a specific line of business or service delivery,” said Duncan. “If not, then we will get out of that business.”

OHRIA’s Response 

“The OLG slots at racetracks program is not a
subsidy, it is a successful revenue sharing partnership between the Government
of Ontario, the Ontario Horse Racing Industry and the municipalities that host
OLG slots at racetracks.” Said Sue Leslie, President of the Ontario Horse
Racing Industry Association (OHRIA).

A November, 2011 report for OHRIA on the
economic impacts of Ontario’s horse racing industry demonstrates the
significant economic benefit the industry continues to have on rural Ontario.
Some of the key findings include:

• Ontario’s Horse Racing Industry
  employs an estimated 60,000 Ontarians and pays a total of $1.5 billion dollars
  of wages and salaries each year in Ontario. The horse racing industry is the
  second largest sub-sector of the agricultural economy with a contribution in
  excess of wheat, eggs, poultry and hogs, combined in 2010.
• Over the last decade annual
  expenditures by the horse racing industry has increased by 67% to $2 billion
  dollars in 2010 from $1.2 billion in 2000. Approximately 80% of this
  expenditure occurs in Ontario’s rural agriculture communities where it provides
  much needed economic growth.
• Government revenue from
  Ontario’s horse racing revenue has increased by 27% over the last ten years
  with the province of Ontario receiving $261 million dollars a year from
  industry not including OLG profits from slot machines.

“Eliminating the OLG slots at racetrack program
would substantially reduce jobs in rural Ontario and take $138 million dollars
of funding from the municipalities that host OLG slots at racetracks.” Said Sue
Leslie. “We are hopeful the government of Ontario will recognize the damage
that would be done to both the rural and municipal Ontario economy if they were
to change or reduce the OLG slots revenue sharing program.”

An economic study fact sheet is available by clicking here and the full report is
available for download on the main page at http://ohria.com

For more information contact:

Sue Leslie, President Ontario Horse Racing
Industry Association

416-679-0741

San Pail jogged to Horse of the Year honours at the United States Harness Writers Association’s annual Dan Patch Awards dinner in Florida on February 12th.

The son of San Pellegrino gave his connections a legitimate reason to leave wintry weather behind as he swept the sport’s top honors, receiving Dan Patch Award trophies for Horse of the Year, Trotter of the Year and best older male trotter during the presentation held at the DoubleTree by Hilton at SeaWorld.

San Pail received 93 of 117 votes for Horse of the Year after winning 14 of 16 races and $1.28 million last season. He is the oldest Horse of the Year honoree since trotter Savoir got the trophy for his 7-year-old campaign in 1975.

Foiled Again was named Pacer of the Year in the closest balloting in the history of the award. Foiled Again, who also was recognized as the best older male pacer, edged 3-year-old colt champion Roll With Joe, 41-37. The previous closest result was in 1974 when Armbro Nesbit defeated Handle With Care by eight votes and Armbro Omaha by 10.

Interestingly, Meadowlands Pace champion Roll With Joe finished second to San Pail in the Horse of the Year balloting. Roll With Joe received nine votes, followed by 2-year-old Trotting Filly of the Year Check Me Out with eight. Foiled Again got two votes while Anndrovette, Broad Bahn, See You At Peelers, Sweet Lou, and Up The Credit all received one.

The Randy Waples-driven San Pail last month was named Horse of the Year in Canada. It is the third time in four years the same horse received the honor in both the U.S. and Canada and fifth time since 2000.

Always a crowd-pleaser, San Pail ended the season the No. 1-ranked horse in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, and outdistanced Check Me Out, 99-10, in Trotter of the Year voting. Check Me Out, like San Pail, also won 14 of 16 races and finished second twice.

San Pail’s wins last season included the Breeders Crown, Maple Leaf Trot, Nat Ray Invitational, Credit Winner, and Allerage Trot. San Pail is trained by Rod Hughes, who co-owns the horse with breeder Glenn Van Camp.

(With Files from Harness Racing Communications)

Due to recent positives for such drugs as ephedrine and caffeine, trainers are again reminded to use extreme caution and consult an Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) licensed veterinarian before administering any new or unknown products to horses – such as so-called herbals or natural products.

The Rules of Racing state that any horse with a positive for a Class I, II, III drug, or a substance determined to be non-therapeutic, shall be declared ineligible to race in Ontario for a period of 90 days. As well, under rule changes introduced in January of 2008, a horse with a positive test amounts to an absolute liability offence for the trainer.

ORC Veterinarian Supervisor Dr. Bruce Duncan says horse people need to be aware of all the ingredients being administered to their animals. “As part of a program of good medication control, trainers need to be vigilant and use caution with natural products. Simply checking the label is no guarantee of what is actually inside the product.”

Dr. Duncan pointed out that while natural health products are generally safe and have fewer side effects than traditional medications, they are not risk free. “Depending on the source or the country of origin, there can be manufacturing problems – such as contamination, incorrect dosage or contain ingredients not mentioned in labeling.”

According to Health Canada, Natural Health Products Regulations, which were enacted on January 1, 2004 under the authority of the Food and Drugs Act provide that: “Natural health products”, often called “complementary” or “alternative” medicines, include:
o vitamins and minerals
o herbal remedies
o homeopathic medicines
o traditional medicines like traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic (East Indian) medicines

The racing community is reminded that a basic aspect of good medication control is ensuring that you only use products that are properly manufactured and clearly labeled, obtained from an authorized distributor, and only administered after consultation with an ORC licensed veterinarian.

By exercising diligence regarding the contents of such products, trainers will be more likely to know if use will lead to a positive test.

(ORC)

The next offering of the popular Groom One Course from Equine Guelph begins March 30, 2012.

Groom One is recognized by both Standardbred Canada and the Ontario Quarter Horse Racing Industry Development Program.  Horse enthusiasts over 16 years of age learn industry standards in this four-phase program combining hands-on experience and online education.

Phase One begins with a two-day orientation at Country Hill Stables in Goodwood, ON Friday, and Saturday March 30-31, 2012.

In Phase Two, students are assisted in finding entry-level employment to accumulate six months of work experience (based on a 35 – 40 hour work week).

Phase Three, ‘Groom One Online’, is set to begin May 21, 2012 and runs for three months.  The CD based units are complemented by online discussions & presentations with industry mentors.  The six units include: The Horse, Horse Handling, Horse Care, Nutrition, Management, and the Racing Community.

Phase Four, the ‘Learning Assessment’, completes the certification process with a demonstration of skills and knowledge.

Registration Details for Groom One are available on this link to Equine Guelph.

Equine Guelph has more to offer than any other online equine studies certificate or diploma program, with 19 courses taught by highly qualified, respected industry professionals from the University of Guelph’s renowned Ontario Vet College and beyond. New offerings developed due to popular demand include Equine Welfare as well as advanced courses in: Behaviour, Anatomy and Nutrition.

Full course listings are available at:  www.equinestudiesdiploma.com

It doesn’t happen very often that The Winner’s Circle gift shop at The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Goshen holds a special sale but with Valentine’s Day coming up, that’s what’s happening.

The prices on hundreds of items have been slashed in this “almost never happens” clearance opportunity!  In-stock only products will be 25% off until Midnight, February 14th. Check it out for some great buys on harness racing related books, jewellery,and lots of other great gift ideas.  No additional discounts apply  – just mention Code V2012 when ordering.

This special promotion is extended to onsite merchandise as well as through the catalog and on the museum’s website http://66.70.200.101/harness/catalog/default.php.  As many items are in limited supply, all new and returning customers are urged to shop while the choices are abundant and before this rare event expires.

The giftshop is an important fundraising division of the museum and income from sales support the museum’s educational programming that celebrates the history of the Standardbred horse and its sport, harness racing.

The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame and the Winner’s Circle gift shopares located at 240 Main Street in Goshen, New York and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. General admission is free thanks to support from The US Trotting Association. For information on the museum, its gift shop, special events and educational programs the museum offers, please call (845)294-6330 or visit www.harnessmuseum.com.

Equine Guelph is offering four free workshops at different horse centres in March to alert horsepeople to the best biosecurity practices for racing stables and farms.

“The recent devastating outbreak of EHV-1 in North America has highlighted the importance of infection control and biosecurity, as well as the deficiencies in knowledge and application that are present across the industry,” says Scott Weese, associate professor and Canada Research Chair at the University of Guelph.

Proof-positive that the time for prevention has now arrived is the January 2012 biosecurity update from Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs confirming cases of Equine Herpes in Southern Ontario.

“Increasing knowledge of best biosecurity practices stands to benefit the horse industry by reducing the risk of disease transmission and, in turn, could create a huge positive economic impact and prevent a potential catastrophic outbreak,”  says Equine Guelph director, Gayle Ecker.

The “Beat the Bugs” program includes four workshops conducted by biosecurity specialists and offered free of charge on a first come, first served basis.

The workshops are scheduled as follows:  Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, March 7, 1 – 3pm; Western Fair, London (during Can-Am), March 16, 10am – noon; Kemptville College, Kemptville, March 24, 2 – 4pm; and Georgian Downs, Barrie, March 27, 1:30 – 3:30pm.  Contact Susan Raymond at Equine Guelph , slraymon@uoguelph.ca to register and for more information.

Bio-Security E-Session Available
For those who are looking to take their biosecurity knowledge to the next level, a two-week Equine Biosecurity e-Session is available April 16 – 29 for $75 (plus HST) per person.  Contact Susan Raymond at Equine Guelph, slraymon@uoguelph.ca , to register and for more information.

Equine Guelph’s “Beat the Bugs with Biosecurity,” program is funded through the Agricultural Biosecurity Program (ABP), part of the Best Practices Suite of programs under Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

“Beat the Bugs” has been developed by Equine Guelph with the assistance of its 11 industry partners: American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation, Central Ontario Standardbred Association, Colorado State University, Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Ontario Association of Equine Practitioners, Ontario Equestrian Federation, Ontario Harness Horse Association, Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association, Ontario Veterinary College, Standardbred Canada, Vétoquinol Canada Inc. and Woodbine Entertainment Group.

For more information on the “Beat the Bugs with Biosecurity” initiative, and to view the Biosecurity Risk Calculator, visit www.EquineGuelph.ca/biosecurity.php. ♦