"I have nothing but great things to say about the Ontario Sires Stakes program; I've raced up there and the people have treated me very well. But with this new ruling, if I would have known it, I would have bred here in New York."
On today's Trot Radio, Norm Borg talks to New York-based horseman Todd Lapage. The closest harness racing facility for Lapage is Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ottawa, but LaPage might be shifting his focus to his home state in light of a new rule put forth by the Ontario Racing Commission that gives preference to horses based in Canada at the time of a draw.
"We have to buy an ORC license, and now with this new ruling - I just renewed mine because my birthday was in October - it's no good to me now."
Episode 187 – Trainer Todd LaPage
Audio Format: MP3 audio
Host: Norm Borg
LaPage's letter to the industry appears below. Please note that the opinions expressed in the following interview are those of the participant and do not necessarily reflect Rideau Carleton Raceway and/or Standardbred Canada.
ORC New Directives Hurt Racing Industry
At the Ontario Racing Commission February 24, 2011 meeting they proposed a rule change 17.10 that stated “first preference must be given to horses stabled in Canada on the day of a draw.” This is basically saying that American horses and trainers are not allowed to race in any overnight race in Ontario. This rule changes raises several concerns to those involved in the racing and breeding industry of standardbreds. Some of those concerns are listed below:
1) The new ruling is forcing all horsepeople to use Canadian trainers. This does away with a person who owns and trains their own horses.
2) Those horsepeople who live along the US/Canadian border make a living racing on the different Ontario tracks. This new rule change is not allowing them a livelihood. Many of these horsepeople have raced at Ontario Tracks for over 50 years.
3) Many horsepeople purchase Ontario-Bred horse because Ontario track have an allowance for Ontario-Bred horses in their overnight events. These horses were purchased prior to this rule change and these horsepeople now own a horse they are not allowed to race in overnights in Ontario.
4) Many bred mares to Ontario Stallions and they would not have bred in Ontario if this rule was in place last breeding season because they look for this extra allowance in overnight races and market their yearling accordingly. Is the ORC going to give these breeders a refund on their Stallion fees?
5) Horsepeople purchased Ontario Licenses and they are void because their horse will not be accepted into the box and if they are allowed in the races, they will never fill because of there being such a small field. Is the ORC going to refund our License fees?
6) These outside horses impact the local Ontario economy. Example: Trip to Mohawk is four hours for most outside horses. These horsepeople purchase hotels, gas, food, WEG insurance, and often times purchase tack, veterinary work or have their horse shod, all of which contribute to the local economy.
Another point the Ontario Racing industry should consider is: how would they feel if the Meadowlands or Lexington, not to say anything about all the standardbred tracks in the United States, refused to take Canadian horses upon entry?
Let it be proposed that the Ontario Racing Commission rescind rule change 17.10 and use horse last race date as a preference upon entry.
Dear Daniel I agree with a
Dear Daniel I agree with a lot of your facts but I do not agree with your interpretation. Yes I did race in Quebec and let me remind you about what was unique about Quebec racing when I did race there. The largest purse I ever raced for in Quebec was the Fm open for 10000 dollars and I watched a number of Quebec sired races go for 50000 and 100000 dollars every weekend.
When I asked on why so much of the purse money went to Quebec bred races the answer was that if you want to win our purses go buy our horses! Let me also remind you that in the last year in Montreal the maiden race for open competition went for 4000 dollars while the Quebec maiden went for 10000 dollars. The other clever way that the purse account was protected was the detention barn on a friday night for two selected races, where if Ottawa horsemen wanted to race for a 6000 purse you would have to take your horse one day ahead and drive back home or stay in a hotel. I have not raced a horse in Ottawa in the last 5 months and I don't have a problem with people from Quebec, maritimes, New York or any where else race in Ontario but I do have a problem with how it is convenient that you believe that the Ontario horsemen and taxpayers do not have a similar right that Quebecers had to protect their purse account when they had a purse account.
I hope that someday the Orc will take its responsibility and make it very clear to everybody, If you want our purses either move to Ontario or buy one of our horses. I decided to not move to Quebec and also to not buy Quebec breds so I had to accept the 4000 purse. I hope one day you will have to make that decision.
I would hate to think of
I would hate to think of where harness racing in the us and canada would be if all the canadian horsemen would not have been able to race in the us. I remember when the canadian stables dominated in Detroit, not to mention Roosevelt, Yonkers, and The Meadowlands. And why did they? Because they were the best. That's the way it should be. All Protectionism does is stop competition. When you put up walls on either side of the border, you may think you're helping yourself, but you're killing horse racing.
I have stated publicly
I have stated publicly before, but any sort of rule that restricts access is very narrow-minded. It can be the beginning of a journey down a "slippery slope" to more such restrictions. Eventually it starts to affect the product on the track because only open competition provides the greatest racing. I benefit from this present ruling, but try to take a larger view on racing, especially when we are in a business that is relatively small. To assume that socalled outsiders are only affecting Ontario racing by the purse monies they take away is absolute folly. They buy yearlings and racehorses, they breed to Ontario stallions, they hire Ontario-based drivers and trainers, they buy Ontario feed, use Ontario blacksmiths and vets, pay Ontario grooms, and the list of tertiary benefits is almost endless. We feel very strong and powerful in Ontario now as we have the best program out there, and some of us dont want to share. But in the past many Ontario horsemen have made great livings going to race in other jurisdictions, especially NJ and NY. I hope initiatives like this preference rule dont come back to haunt us when there is reciprocal action from other jurisdictions. Maybe if a rejuvenated Meadowlands makes it hard for us to race there, we in Ontario wont be too happy. We already have many races in Ontario totally restricted to Ontario-breds, and more yet that have allowances for Ontario-breds. These may be a necessaey evil to bolster our program. But to take the next step and absolutely restrict an entry based on location is wrong. There will probably be little effect right now, but in the summer with so many more horses battling to get starts, this rule may directly impact some participants.
I suppose I won't breed my
I suppose I won't breed my mares in Canada. Sad, some great stallions up there! The Best!
All i can say is NAFTA!
All i can say is NAFTA!
I don't think the ORC was
I don't think the ORC was thinking straight when it made this new rule. I also think it applies primarily to Windsor Raceway and possibly Sarnia and doesn't really affect other tracks. The last part of the ruling does take into account the OSS program but it really hits all other horses hard. Let's not forget the majority of trainers and owners who are not fortunate enough to own stake caliber horses what do they do to get horses raced? Not to mention cases where horses are Canadian owned but American trained. I don't thonk the ORC has the right to tell an owner who to use as a trainer and punish him accordingly. So what's happening now is American stables are coming here for 3-4 months for the length of the meet,most horses are US. owned, taking the purse money, and going home when their meets start. How does this solve any of the problems? Even worse from a betters perspective and more importantly from a horses welfare, horses are racing 3 times a week just because they can. How is that good for a horse or for a betting public? Americans help bring in good horses, competitive races and full cards what is wrong with that?
For clarity, Rule 17.10 is
For clarity, Rule 17.10 is as follows:
Chapter 17 - DECLARATIONS AND DRAWING OF POST POSITIONS
Rule 17.10 - Starters and also eligibles for overnight events shall be drawn by lot from horses properly declared to start, except as follows:
i) first preference shall be given to a horse that is stabled in Canada the day of the draw and remains in Canada until the race is contested; and
ii) second preference shall be given according to a horse's last scheduled start in a purse race, other than races designated as schooling races, at the gait for which it is declared.
In addition preference shall be governed by the following:
New Rule 17.10.01 - Notwithstanding the requirements under 17.10 (i), Ontario Sires Stakes eligible horses will be exempt from the requirement to meet first preference for the period of May 1 to November 1 of the current year inclusive.
The Canadian preference is
The Canadian preference is the ORCs way of distinguishing beween Quebec and Michigan. Let's end the stupidity put Ontario earnings benefits and Ontario sire benefits on a large number of the condition races and stop disguising what we want.
The Ontario Racing Commission as well as every tax payer in Ontario who participates in horse racing would like a larger piece of the purse account to go to Ontario residents. The Michigan horse people are a scapegoat and as an industry we need to get the solution to be more consistant and fair. ONTARIO program thus ONTARIO benefits. The Canadain component makes no sense. It is apparent that they are trying to solve a problem in Windsor without stirring up a hornets nest in Ottawa.
In reply to The Canadian preference is by glenn bechtel
Dear Mr bechtel, I think
Dear Mr bechtel,
I think that the ORC is doing this mostly for michigan residents. It's not for the quebec people - their situation is way different. They have no more tracks and racing, you want quebec people out of ottawa but what about the quebec people who live across the river 10 min away who race their whole life at rideau. I know you are mad about the montreal boys but lots of them race at rideau for a long time before the closures of the tracks in quebec so i think they belong at rideau.
And the other ones also because their is no racing this is supposed to be a gentelman sport and we should help each other out to rebuild this industry if I recall you and your trainer John Macmillan raceg lots of times in Montreal.
Knowing John he loved racing there and using his favorite driver Gilles Gendron that would be a bit hipocritical to say lets keep purse money for ontario resident and ontario programs when you guys took quebec purses when you raced in Quebec. Plus the ORC made us buy ORC licences so in way i see that we have become your cousins from a different family. thnx this is my opinion.
Daniel Houle
Well COSA, OHHA, Ontario
Well COSA, OHHA, Ontario breeders?????
Greg Parke
Lorne maybe you didnt
Lorne maybe you didnt understand.I was talking about grand circuit horses. To not allow a grand circuit horse a prep before a major stake because OF ONTARIO BASED PREFERENCE is simply unfair.It also creates an advantage for the horse that is stabled in Ontario.One cant expect a trainer to ship in early (if possible)and give it to another trainer for one week.Maybe the exception could be that if a horse is elligible to a major stake,it may race the week before with no restrictions.
I believe that there is
I believe that there is exceptions for horses racing in the OSS... The way i understood it is that they will be allowed to race in overnights and the out of province rule does not apply..
I doubt the ontario racing
I doubt the ontario racing commission has thought this thru. There are numerous implications concerning this new rule.The one that bothers me the most is what does one do regarding a stakes caliber horse who ships to race in a stake but requires a prep?Since this is an overnite, preference is given to ontario based horses.He may have qualified the week before and not have the opportunity to be in ontario by the entry date.And since this is a US sired and based horse ,do I now turn this horse over to a canadian trainer, one who has never even seen the horse,instead of the trainer whos had him all his life? This rule would have eliminated Put on a show getting a prep race before her stake at 2. Imagine not accepting St. Elmos entry for a prep before a stake because he is not yet in Ontario. Also makes the Obrien rule of having 3 starts harder especially for 2yr olds. I love the canadian program and for non stakes horses I understand the reasons behind the rule, however I think certain exceptions have to be made.
how come Mr Lapage its
how come Mr Lapage its allright for certain tracks in the USA to write on their condition sheets state owned and bred too write us out in ontario and Canada and we accept that even we dont like it but we accept it an move on . If dont like the rules theres nobody twisting your arm to race here