On Monday, November 18, officials with The Canadian Sportsman announced that the Ontario-based horse racing publication will cease publishing after its December, 2013 issue.
In a release sent out by the publication, The Canadian Sportsman’s president, Gary Foerster, stated that challenges in both the print industry and the Ontario horse racing industry led to the tough decision.
In terms of Ontario, Foerster stated “…breeders have suffered dramatic losses. The adverse financial circumstances visited on the breeders, and the industry at large, have been reflected in our advertising sales and subscription revenue which have plummeted to the point where, after nearly a century and a half, this magazine is no longer economically viable."
Foerster went on to say, "The current Ontario government has announced some details of a plan designed to support racing on a vastly reduced scale. Regrettably, we do not envision a scenario whereby our publication can continue to exist."
The contents of The Canadian Sportsman’s release appear below.
After 143 Years, The Canadian Sportsman To Cease Publishing In December
The Canadian Sportsman, Canada's oldest magazine, will cease publishing in December 2013. Dedicated to the sport of harness horse racing, The Canadian Sportsman produced its first edition in 1870 and ran continuously for 143 years.
"Several factors have led to this very difficult decision," said Canadian Sportsman president Gary Foerster. "Print magazines face unprecedented challenges in the digital age and the demographics served by the magazine pose their own unique challenges."
There has also been a severe contraction of the industry expedited by recent government policies in Ontario.
"Our major source of advertising revenue has traditionally come from Ontario horse breeders. Since the Ontario Liberal government under then Premier Dalton McGuinty announced in 2012 that it was scrapping the Slots At Racetrack Program (SARP) in just a matter of months, the breeders have suffered dramatic losses. The adverse financial circumstances visited on the breeders, and the industry at large, have been reflected in our advertising sales and subscription revenue which have plummeted to the point where, after nearly a century and a half, this magazine is no longer economically viable," Foerster said.
"The current Ontario government has announced some details of a plan designed to support racing on a vastly reduced scale. Regrettably, we do not envision a scenario whereby our publication can continue to exist."
The Canadian Sportsman's printing division, Sportswood Printing, which underwent a recent major expansion into digital printing and with further expansion plans to be announced soon, remains in full operation.
The Canadian Sportsman has been a fixture for generations of families involved in racing. Our Sportsman family includes a staff of 27 in either full time, contract or freelance positions including publisher and editor Dave Briggs and assistant editor Lauren Lee.
"Dave and Lauren have done a tremendous job at the Sportsman," Foerster said, noting that the magazine has won 17 awards for editorial excellence in just the past three years. "Both have a real passion for the racing industry and I cannot thank them, and all our writers, enough for their dedication to this publication and for the exceptional body of work they have produced.
"I also want to note the contributions of our two outstanding photographers Dave Landry and Claus Andersen. Over the years they have captured incredible images of the sport for our readers.
"We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our advertisers and readers who have supported us for such a long time," Foerster said. "People in the racing business are the best anyone will ever meet. It has truly been an honour to serve them through the pages of our historic magazine."
More details on the closing of The Canadian Sportsman magazine, including information on subscriber refunds, will be contained in its farewell edition in December.
This is a very sad time
This is a very sad time indeed. I have been reading the Sportsman for over a half century. I have enjoyed to varying degrees each and every issue. The two Daves, Briggs and Landry are the very best at what they do in our sport. I very much hope that they and their dedicated staff will find another niche in our industry.
This is a sad day indeed .For
This is a sad day indeed .For those many of us who have read and enjoyed The Sportsman over the years, it marks the end of a true Institution .As a writer and historian of sorts myself, I have spent a lifetime looking through the pages of this revered publication .I had the privilege of writing a number of articles for this fine journal and have leafed through countless old issues looking for facts,figures and eyewitness accounts of memorable races and personalities .My heart goes out to the folks at the Sportsman and wish each of them the best as they adjust to a new way of life. Many many years ago I visited the home of "Chappy" in Tillsonburg and even shared an adult beverage with him as I picked up a few copies of an issue that carried the obituary of my father .Thanks for the memories ......
I am so sorry that this
I am so sorry that this wonderful magazine must end! I was thinking just yesterday that I should be getting my renewal notices soon. I bought this for not only myself but my father who is 94 - a horseman all his life and looked forward to receiving each issue of The Sportsman so he could keep up with the news and all the people he no longer can visit and talk about the "old" days. The only thing we can do now is make sure the Liberals don't get in in the next election.
We have enjoyed this magazine
We have enjoyed this magazine for many years.
Unfortunately the actions of an uncaring and greedy government have caused a domino effect to lost jobs and peoples livelihood throughout the industry.
Very Very sad.....
Very Very sad.....
I Understand Why this
I Understand Why this Decision had to be Made.
This is a sad day in our household for sure. Gary and his very talented colleagues have contributed so much to the harness racing industry and we are very proud of the calibre of magazine both editorially and pictorially that they have produced. It is truly a world class magazine. My father the late Clifford "Chappy" Chapman is the Editor Emeritus of the Canadian Sportsman and three generations of Chapmans have been involved in the harness racing industry because they loved it so passionately. The way the Liberal government has treated the people involved in this field would break his heart. On behalf of the Chapman family, thank you to all the staff of the Canadian Sportsman and good luck in your future endeavours. Your reporting and commentaries are second to none.
Once again the Liberal Gov't
Once again the Liberal Gov't has ruined a good thing! I have looked forward to this magazine and the articles etc. it contains. I do hope the next election sees a different gov't and all this has not been forgotten by then. What is wrong with these people? The new PLAN to save horse racing in Ontario is just to shut us up. It is not going to do anything for the horse racing industry! It won't be long til all the drivers have gone to the U.S. and who can blame them? Then the breeders (the ones who survive) will go and on and on til horse racing is a thing of the past in Ontario.
OMG, I am so shocked and
OMG, I am so shocked and saddened. What a wonderful magazine,I have been a subscriber for years. Being a small business owner, I couldn't advertise too much but I always put in a Christmas ad. My heart goes out to Gary, Wilma and all of the staff at the Sportsman. The Sportsman will definitely be missed.
Karen Breen
Tackmaster Equipment
A very fine magazine. A
A very fine magazine. A classic example that quality is almost immaterial in the brave new world. It is all about deception deceit and fraud!!
Way to go Dalton and Dwight.
Way to go Dalton and Dwight. Another notch in the handle of your smoking gun. How do you sleep at night?
Absolutely shameful!!
Absolutely shameful!! Another casualty of the Liberal decision-making and their arrogant and arbitrary ways. During the next election the Liberals should run on the platform that ..."We are responsible for shutting down a business that operated for 143 years in Ontario"......congratulations!!