Flamboro Deals Imminent?

FlamboroDowns-HamiltonSpec.jpg
Published: February 20, 2013 08:46 pm EST

The Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corp. and Flamboro Downs are reportedly "extremely close" to signing a lease agreement, according to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs horse racing transition panel.

John Snobelen, one of three members on the OMAFRA panel, told the YourHamiltonBiz.com that a deal with the Dundas, Ont. half-mile oval is imminent. The news comes less than a week after Hamilton City Council voted unanimously that any new casino development should go to the Flamboro Downs location.

The OLG has already reached agreements with 11 other Ontario racetracks.

“We had a host of tracks in last week to meet with Finance, and more meetings are taking place this week,” said Snobelen. “We will have a significant number of tracks in place before the end of the month, and then we can focus our efforts in March on setting race dates and purses. Basically, the question comes down to the track operators – are you in or are you out? Once that’s clear, who’s in and who’s out, we’ll be able to work with the ORC on putting together a racing schedule that makes sense."

Snobelen said that he expects significant movement on the horse racing file within the next five to 10 days, and when the negotiations are complete, he believes Ontario will rank among the top five horse racing jurisdictions in North America.

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