The future of Ontario's horse racing will be made clearer as an announcement has been scheduled for Friday.
A release from the Premier's Office stated that "an announcement on the future of the horse racing industry in Ontario" is set for a media-only press conference at Grand River Raceway in Elora, Ont.
According to unconfirmed reports from yourhamiltonbiz.com, the Premier will "instruct the OLG to integrate horse racing back into the modernization strategy" and also announce that four tracks - Grand River, Western Fair, Clinton Raceway and Hanover - have completed transitional funding agreements.
Trot Insider will be providing live updates from the press conference, starting at 12 noon.
A statement from OHRIA issued late Thursday night reiterated that the press conference is "an invited media-only event" and is not open to the public.
"Please do not disrupt or attempt to attend this important press conference, as doing so is not in the best interests of our industry," said OHRIA's Sue Leslie.
It will be about Ontario
It will be about Ontario rural jobs, Ontario bred( sire and dams ontario own)
hoping to save and have more fair ground non lucrative association, THE BASIS FOR A NEW START.
And the financing from the off track betting à la française.( near 2 billion $ for the month of january and february)
No matter what the
No matter what the announcement is we must stay united-Horse people are tough as nails. We've been kicked, stepped on, arms yanked, pushed over, bit, and head butted by our horses so whatever "instructions" she's giving to the OLG we can overcome this and move forward with greater strength.
Does anybody else find it
Does anybody else find it funny that the Ontario Horseman have to wait to find out what is going on, after all the deals have already been made? I'm sure this will sound like good news after all the bad we've been told, but I still don't like the idea of being part of anything the OLG is controlling. These guys want us gone and the only way we are going increase handle on horseracing is to get them out of our business.
I hope there is something for
I hope there is something for horse racing east of toronto, lots of horses and farm owners from toronto to ottawa.
Just perhaps, the interest of
Just perhaps, the interest of the Six Nations in becoming involved, maybe that has thrown a little fear into Godfrey's scheme! We will see!
I can't wait to hear the
I can't wait to hear the news. It feels like some sort of a pivotal point.
I'm glad she's at GRR, but I'm disappointed that she didn't choose WFR as a backdrop for whatever the news is.
Here's what's as the kids say, "Cray-Cray"...
Wynne, the Premier-Designate and self-appointed Minister of Agriculture declined an invite to attend the London Farm Show at WFR (Western Fair District). This show is massive, and celebrating 75 years (nice milestone).
Instead... Private party in Elora.
Moments before this big announcement of the announcement....
Tim Hudak announces he's going to the Farm Show at WFR to announce a rural platform!!!
They're going to be speaking at the same time at two locations.
I'm not a politician. I'm not even a political buff. But Wynne just lost a bunch of wind on Ag...
#ontag is blowing up right now about it.
Tomorrow is going to be interesting.
In reply to I can't wait to hear the by Joe Scully
Bad political releases are
Bad political releases are always made on Friday afternoons, that way it is not possible to contact politicians over the weekend and gives them time to work out strategies to deal with the reactions. Not promising.
Wynne was there when McGuinty
Wynne was there when McGuinty & Duncan crippled the industry. What can we expect?I hope I am wrong.
No matter what is announced.
No matter what is announced. This Liberal government cannot be trusted whatsover. If she has been listening to Snobelin at all then we are still in serious trouble.
Unfortunately, the damage is
Unfortunately, the damage is done. No matter what this woman announces, I will very likely be moving to the states to race. Just thinking Bruce T. Winning
I agree with Murray... I
I agree with Murray... I would think if the news was all bad for us she'd just make the announcement from Queens Park.
Don't get too optimistic,
Don't get too optimistic, people. Don't forget that it was the Liberal gov't who created this mess and because of that, we are at their mercy until the next election. The fact that only media people are invited to this press conference makes me think that all the news will not be good news. It might be too little too late.
Don't expect any signicant
Don't expect any signicant help, only enough to slowly starve us to death, why do you think it is media only and last minute notice?Wynn probably won't even show her face fearing facing irate horsemen.An announcement of horse racings future? Our future is welfare and unemployment.We've gone from world class to class clown.I think any horsemen who can be there should, but judging from previous turnouts 20 or 30 people won't matter much anyway.
Note that it says "media-only
Note that it says "media-only press conference". Doesn't look like she wants to face the horse people.
We will only hear it second hand from the press.
I would guess that since
I would guess that since Grand River is the venue for the announcement, that the message contained therein is probably a relatively positive one. But generally speaking I'm inclined to consider myself as being an optimist.
In reply to I would guess that since by murray
Always nice to hear from the
Always nice to hear from the Harness racing greats like Murray, optimist all the way.
I would also like to be there
I would also like to be there but some things never change. Most of our FUTURE? has been done behind closed doors so I*m not too surprised it*s media-only! We have all tried to get the media involved in our plight, however with a few exceptions unfortunately they*ve been MIA!
I would like to be there. How
I would like to be there. How about the rest of you ? May be we could enlighten Ms. Wynne as to the importance of our industry to the province and to her next campagne. She could be a hero and get herself thousands of votes if this announcement has any positives in it. I pray that it is not more doom and gloom. Maybe the story about the 40 dead and many starving horses in Markdale gave her some insight to the future. Malnurished is not the proper term . Starvation is.
I can hardly wait. Wonder if
I can hardly wait. Wonder if we still will be Inserting the word "elimination" when they say "smaller".
It's about time, so will it
It's about time, so will it be more stalling to shut us up until after March 31 or will it be another sustainable but smaller image they are selling that will be the end of rural Ontario racing. Only a return to the SARP will be acceptable possibly we can negotiate more acceptable terms for the renewed contract in 2015 which we all say is acceptable but no subsidies or we're finished.