On Tuesday (September 26), Ontario Racing hosted a reception at Queen's Park for racing industry stakeholders, members of provincial parliament and government staff.

Representatives from all three political parties addressed those who attended the event, each speaking about the importance of horse racing to the province of Ontario.

"Your government recognizes that the horse racing industry is vital to rural Ontario," said Jeff Leal, Ontario's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "The industry continues to contribute in excess of $2 billion to Ontario's GDP.

"That is why your government is committed to the sustainability of horse racing in this province. I look forward to working together to making horse racing in Ontario more sustainable."

Randy Pettapiece, the Progressive Conservative critic for horse racing in Ontario, spoke about his disappointment with previous government decisions made about horse racing. But he also expressed optimism for the future.

"The government is finally committed to long-term funding for horse racing. Let's hold them to it."

John Vanthof, the NDP Critic for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, spoke about horse racing's importance to provincial agriculture.

"I've been an MPP for six years. My previous job was as a dairy farmer," said Vanthof. "There is no industry that has taken the hits of the horse racing industry. You've suffered huge kicks from short-term thinking.

"Going forward we have to speak to the industry and hopefully we're moving in that direction. You provide economic benefit and recreation. The impacts that have been put on the people working with (horses) the last six years, we can't do that again."