The Quebec Jockey Club was blindsided by the revelation Hippodrome de Quebec would be "permanently unavailable" for horse racing after May 2, 2012, president Tony Infilise has said
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"It was unexpected. We had a lease for the whole year, signed just a few days ago. We were reassured there'd be no issues for 2012. Something changed, and it appears to be related to the quantity of parking for the (adjacent) Colisee arena project. This is really a curve at us. It's not a death knell, but it's not good," Infilise said.
The jockey club is actively looking for alternative sites for the rest of 2012 and beyond.
"We have to scramble, but we definitely intend to have a venue for the younger horses and race elsewhere next year. The (Hippodrome) Trois-Rivieres property is still not sold. We're having a look at that. There are four or five possibilities," Infilise said.
Quebec City's racetrack would be supplanted by a parking lot under the new development plan for the site, which will include a new arena and expanded fairgrounds.
(A Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean)
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