Local Reaction To Kawartha Deal

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After negotiations stretched late into Saturday, Kawartha Downs and the Ontario government reached an agreement to keep the Fraserville racino open.

"It's absolutely incredible news," Scott McFadden, mayor of Cavan Monaghan, told the Peterborough Examiner. McFadden, referring to the local jobs saved in the light of the new Shorelines Casino Peterborough's impending opening which threatened the future of Kawartha.

"(Premier Doug Ford) was happy they were able to come through. Promise made, promise kept," McFadden continued, referring to a campaign promise made to bolster the health of horse racing in the province. "You know what? He (Ford) was there for rural Ontario."

Kawartha Downs general manager Orazio Valente had high praise for McFadden through the process of seeking a solution with the province to keep the racetrack open.

"Mayor McFadden has been a great resource to me personally through this process," Valente told the Examiner. "We're excited for the future of the racetrack."

While reported to be bound by a non-disclosure agreement with respect to the terms of the resolution, Valente was by all counts pleased with the result of the negotiation and the future of Standardbred racing in the Peterborough region.

"We're certainly happy with the turn of events."

(with files from the Peterborough Examiner)

Comments

Great news for the local horse people and for employees at the facility.

This is great news, thank you for all your hard work! I know there are a lot of happy horse people out there. Kawartha Downs works so hard at getting fans involved with our sport. Well done team Kawartha!

A precedent for all tracks that have or are about to lose their slots. Horsemen were sold out to casino owners by the Liberals and now the PC's who started the slot program are making amends as promised. Take the slots and maybe in the future there could be table games and sports betting. Let the public decide who they would rather support, greedy casino owners or rural Ontario. OHHA the ball is in your court. Thank you Doug Ford, now is the time to right another Liberal wrong!!

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