What are the nation's harness racing associations doing for their respective horsepeople amid the current COVID-19 pandemic?
A number of Canada's provincial harness racing associations took part in a conference call facilitated by Standardbred Canada on Monday (March 23). The purpose of the call was to get a strong picture of what each association is doing to manage the current situation, understand the level of support the industry is getting in each region and across the country, share and identify best practices, and assist in developing an action plan for the short-term and long-term planning of this issue for the industry.
Each of Canada's provinces had a representative invited to attend. Taking part in the call were representatives from Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
Alberta: Fred Gillis, Executive Director, Alberta Standardbred Horse Association.
Gillis noted that the ASHA office is closed for the next two weeks and all employees are working remotely from home. A task force has been created in Alberta; Horse Racing Alberta acts as the lead, with HRA, racetrack operators and all horse breeds participating in calls twice per week.
"They have reached out to the Alberta government through the provincial treasury," said Gillis. "They're addressing some of the short- and long-term issues."
One key difference Gillis pointed to during the call was the funding model for racing in Alberta, where racing gets a percentage of the slot revenue.
"When we do get back, there will probably be a lag time from when slots open until we actually get the funds because you don't get them until the 10th of the following month. So depending on when they start, it could be anywhere from a three- to six-week lag."
Gillis also noted the Thoroughbreds are stationed at Century Mile outside Edmonton, and the Standardbreds are being housed at Century Downs in Balzac. According to Gillis, Century is a very good business partner and is offering to keep the track suitable for training, and supply bedding for the horses but some of the stables will run out of money now that racing has stopped. Having said that, he noted that morale is holding, physical distancing is being exercised, and hand sanitizer is available.
Since the call, ASHA President Bill Andrew issued a letter to the province's harness racing industry.
British Columbia - Diane Pennington, Harness Racing B.C.
Pennington reported that HRBC has been in dialog with all levels of organizations in the province including the BC Horse Racing Industry Management Committee, Horse Council BC and BC Thoroughbred Association, and Equestrian Canada. They worked with Horse Council BC to prepare a COVID-19 survey that went to all members in the agriculture sector.
A board meeting was scheduled for last Thursday (March 26) to review and discuss stakes that were scheduled and postponed. Some stakes payments that were due in B.C. on May 1 have been pushed back to a June due date.
There are still concerns regarding stabling, track availability and the question on everyone's mind, "when racing will resume."
New Brunswick: Brock McEachern, Horse Racing New Brunswick
The simulcast locations in the province closed on March 19, according to McEachern. There are still around 50 horses at the track in Saint John still training, with all participants abiding by the state of emergency and physical distancing requirements.
Employees of HRNB have all filed for employment insurance, with some of the horsemen stabled at Exhibition Park maintaining the track on a volunteer basis.
"We're just kind of waiting to see where this all goes in the next couple of weeks," said McEachern.
When asked if he had heard anything regarding trainers not being able to qualify for employment insurance, McEachern noted that those training horses weren’t applying as they are mostly hobby horseman. However, maintenance people, ticket sellers and bar staff were applying and enduring long waiting telephone calls.
Nova Scotia: Robyn Crowe, Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association
Crowe noted that the province is also under a state of emergency but with no live racing scheduled until the end of April nothing had been impacted to date. Contact has been made with both the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Finance to touch base on the financial impact that not having simulcasting will have and the losses those locations are incurring.
"It's been a challenge for the three tracks, all of them are impacted," said Crowe. "We're trying our best to work with the province; we're going to put together a package for them to look at and see if they can provide any assistance on that end."
Noting that two of the tracks will likely eligible for loan deferral programs announced by the province, the question still remains as to when things will get back to normal. Crowe also raised concerns of horse population as well as the opportunity to race during decent conditions as that window is smaller in the Maritimes.
Ontario: Bill O'Donnell - President, Central Ontario Standardbred Association
As part of the task force established by Ontario Racing, O'Donnell noted that a proposal was put together to get some funding to help the horsemen as the money is budgeted. As reported last week, financial support in the form of the COVID-19 aid package is being offered to those involved with Standardbred racehorses who were in-to-race at operational racetracks from March 19 to March 24.
O'Donnell also said that there was a meeting scheduled for late last week with respect to the Ontario Sires Stakes and the HIP program. On Tuesday, the OSS announced that the payment deadline for yearlings was pushed from May 15 to June 15, 2020.
Ontario: Katherine Curry - Executive Director, Ontario Racing
"We've been talking with the OLG, we're trying to get a proposal for short-term, medium-term and long-term relief," said Curry in reference to the task force. She also made reference to the information OR has been communicating to the industry with respect to the government programs that might be available to participants come April 1.
"There are a lot of balls in the air; I realize that's the case for everybody. We're all in the same boat."
Ontario: Jim Whelan - President, Ontario Harness Horse Association
Whelan noted that OHHA has an agreement with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), and that OHHA has the same questions of government in terms of funding.
"We're in a unique situation as there's already money allotted for this period of time in horse racing," said Whelan, "and if we're not going to be racing for the next couple of months and that money was budgeted for already and it's available, get it to the horsepeople immediately."
Ontario: Brian Tropea - General Manager, Ontario Harness Horse Association
Tropea stated that the majority of concerns he's hearing involve the stakes payments that are imminently due.
"People are struggling to pay their mortgages, and they're being asked to come up with stakes payments for racs that may not actually take place...or if they do take place, later on in the year," said Tropea. "So that's something I think, as an industry, we need to be considering.
Since the call, a number of Canadian stakes administrators and jurisdictions announced plans to reschedule stakes payments.
Tropea reinforced the need for funding, noting an equitable sharing of funds however that formula might be determined. He also pointed to the announcement of a $5 billion credit program for agriculture and farmers, wondered if the industry would be included in that sector and how that could help.
Prince Edward Island: Kent Oakes, Prince Edward Island Harness Racing Industry Association
Prince Edward Island placed restrictions to travel early on with respect to access to the Island by plane or boat. Red Shores was closed in mid-March, with restricted access to the barn area.
Live harness racing was slated to start at Charlottetown on May 2, and while no official word has been delivered Oakes expected that opening date to be pushed back.
"There's so much unknown, it certainly won't be May 2;" noted Oakes. "Anyone who tells you when life's going to return to normal in PEI or Canada, I haven't found that person yet."
The right person to talk to regarding dealing with the province of PEI, Oakes stated that there's good communication with the industry and government at all times.
In terms of impact on the breeding sector, Oakes said that in his discussions with farms in the province it's all systems go and business as usual.
Oakes also noted that the province has announced a number of support programs that are being enhanced "almost on a daily basis" in the form of a business interruption fund, a working capital finance program and an emergency relief program that's targeted toward those that are self-employed.
"We are actively following just how the impact will be here."
Quebec: Marc Camirand - President, Quebec Trotting and Pacing Association (ATAQ)
Camirand reported that he is meeting with the Quebec Jockey Club on a weekly basis, and that meetings continue. The province of Quebec wasn't supposed to start racing until the first of May so the situation there is slightly different than in other provinces but one fact remains: a lack of racing means a lack of revenues. With betting parlours closed and less racing available via simulcast, there will be less revenue.
Like others, Camirand wondered what kind of funding the Canadian government would set aside for the Standardbred industry.
Saskatchewan: Carole Dunbar – Saskatchewan Standardbred Breeders & Owners
Dunbar noted that while not hosting any live racing at the present time, Saskatchewan has owners that have horses in Alberta and BC right now and everyone there -- just like everyone else -- is in a holding pattern to see what's going to happen.