A rally has been planned at Queen's Park --- tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, February 22 --- to show support for the Ontario horse racing industry.
A release issued today by the Ontario Harness Horse Association, explains that in 1998, the Ontario horse racing industry negotiated an agreement charging the Ontario government a fee which allows them to locate and operate slot machines within Ontario horse racing facilities, in direct competition with the industry.
It goes on to state that in 2011 racetrack slots generated roughly $1.7 billion; and from that revenue, the Ontario government paid roughly $355 million in operating costs and paid roughly $345 million to the horse-racing industry to cover its negotiated fee. As it works out, in 2011 alone, the Government of Ontario cleared over $1 billion from revenue generated at racetracks across the province without investing a penny in the industry.
The release offers a direct quote from OHHA, which states, “The horse racing industry is a self-sustaining industry. We have never taken a penny from the government. We subsidize the government, not the other way around.”
The release states that, according to recent statements by Ontario Minister of Finance Dwight Duncan, the government plans to renege on the signed agreement with the horse-racing industry which will have a devastating impact on those that rely on horse racing for their livelihood. The horse-racing industry is at risk of losing the industry, the jobs and participants' sole source of income if the McGuinty Liberal Government follows through on its threat. Many horse racing participants will either leave the province or end up on social assistance. It happened in Quebec four years ago, and it is about to happen here in Ontario.
The release states that the Ontario horse racing industry is an industry which has always survived on its own and never received a penny from the government. It breeds and races horses bought at auctions. It gets its income from pari-mutuel wagering. Many of its participants are self-employed and therefore cannot receive benefits. The only option is welfare. If the Minister of Finance, Dwight Duncan, thinks taxpayers are subsidizing the Ontario horse racing industry now, wait until thousands of its participants are unemployed. Given the present state of the economy, the last thing the people of Ontario need is a greater burden on their already stretched tax dollars. OHHA believes this proposal is short sighted, destructive, and vindictive and will destroy rural Ontario and its prestigious agricultural industry.
OHHA is asking all Ontarians to join it in saving a way of life and the livelihoods of thousands of men and women that rely on horse racing for survival.
The release states that efforts to organize a rally at Queen’s Park (tentative for Wednesday, February 22, 2012) are well underway, and a follow-up press release will announce the date and time as soon as they have been confirmed.
To view a copy of the OHHA release, click here.
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If this goes forward we all
If this goes forward we all need to be there.The worse thing that could happen would be to have a poor turnout and have the politicians stand back and say...... I guess there aren't THAT many people that really care.We all know that we really do care and demonstrating it is absolutely imperative.
I groom horses and I support
I groom horses and I support the Slots at Racetracks PARTNERSHIP
I haven't been involved with Harness racing for as long as everyone else, but since I have been, it's my life. To take away the livelihoods of all parties invovled in this sport would be so devastating.
It seems the government has failed yet again to create jobs. They just keep taking them away. Another broken promise.
If there is really a rally, you can bet I WILL be attending!
I agree completely with
I agree completely with Jack's position. A 'rally' should represent EVERYONE that would be harmed by potential cuts to contracted funds ... farmers (with trucks and tractors) ... trainers (with trucks and trailers) ... feed providers (with trucks etc) ... grooms (with shovels and harness over shoulder) ... auto dealership reps (with new rigs) ... trailer companies (with trailers) ... bettors ... owners ... thoroughbred, standardbred AND quarter horse people ... track representatives. Done properly, we could make a memorable impact. Done in a piecemeal manner, we'll be cannon fodder. Haste makes waste.
Sue Hutton In addition to a
Sue Hutton
In addition to a large turnout for this rally to be successful, I think a diverse group of interested parties needs to be represented, and identified. For example,
I own a horse and I support the Slots at Racetracks PARTNERSHIP
I train horses and I support the Slots at Racetracks PARTNERSHIP
I groom horses and I support the Slots at Racetracks PARTNERSHIP
I drive horses and I support the Slots at Racetracks PARTNERSHIP
I shoe horses and I support the Slots at Racetracks PARTNERSHIP
I grow hay and I support the Slots at Racetracks PARTNERSHIP
I operate a feedstore and I support the Slots at Racetracks PARTNERSHIP
I maintain a track and I support the Slots at Racetracks PARTNERSHIP
I provide veterinary care and I support the Slots at Racetracks PARTNERSHIP
I maintain equipment and I support the Slots at Racetracks PARTNERSHIP
I provide training facilities and I support the Slots at Racetracks PARTNERSHIP
I breed race horses and I support the Slots at Racetracks PARTNERSHIP
I sell race horses and I support the Slots at Racetracks PARTNERSHIP
etc.
Can anyone tell us if
Can anyone tell us if trucks, delivery vans, cars, or starting trucks will be there?I don't think any actual horses should be there, nor any sulkys with drivers.
This is very serious situation. From what I can glean in reading the posts, it appears that some sort of agreement has been broken.
I like the idea of Jeff Gural in the US coming up here to sit down with some key Liberals. Total respect should be the order of the day if such a meeting takes place. Mr. Gural had a lot of pictures and print on this site when he was trying to take over THE MEADOWLANDS.He might be glad to help.
He might be willing to have the Ontario horsemen find a lawyer with a racing background to resolve this issue.
So, the final face off would be Mr. Gural, lawyer with racing background versus a few Liberals who I hope would know something about racing.
A contract expert could be sitting close by to answer any questions from either side.This contract expert would not be on either side--just there to study the agreement between the Liberals and the Horseman, and explain all the fine print.
The main thing is total respect on both sides.Also, no financial penalty to the side losing the battle.Neither side should do anything to upset the people negotiating this important matter.My fingers are crossed.
This is not the response
This is not the response that will best represent the interests of the horse racing industry. 2000 people at Queens Park will underwhem the Ontario MP,s into understanding the economic impact of changing or even worse eliminating the slot partnership. No one horseman group or racetrack should spearhead this movement. OHRIA should spearhead a meeting to develop a plan to get all organizations from all facets of the racing industry to meet and attack this problem on a united front. Our goal should not be to show the government how mad we are but instead to demonstrate to them the large economic hole that will be left when as many as 30000 hard working tax paying individuals either leave the province or join the unemployed.
A large turnout must be
A large turnout must be assured for this rally to be successful. A tremendous amount of motivation is required. Staging a rally at Queens Park with a small turnout would be a disaster for us so care must be taken to guaranty that a big crowd shows up.