On Wednesday, December 6, the Horse Peoples' Alliance of Ontario held an open meeting at a Toronto airport hotel.

The meeting was attended by horsepeople, owners and breeders from the horse racing industry, across all three breeds.

Bruce Pollock, Frank Roth and Jim Whelan led the discussion.

"It's been a long time growing the Horse Peoples' Alliance together," said Roth. "We're bringing the breeds together so there is a future for horse racing in Ontario, and a future for horsepeople.

"We are truly a group of dedicated, interested horsepeople coming together, respective of breed, for the single purpose of making your racing life and breeding life better.

"We are an incorporated body. We will be thoroughly transparent... We think that transparency counts," said Roth.

"It's important to know that the Alliance makes no allegations against anyone or any organization. What we seek is full transparency. The Alliance seeks to get information so we can make decisions and participate in decisions," said Roth.

"Our membership is open to anyone who is concerned about the industry," said Whelan. "We're self funded, and going forward we need funding.

"We need a business plan for the industry," he said. "Everybody has problems and concerns, but we need to bring forward plans and solutions.

"A lot of very passionate people are stepping up to the plate," said Whelan. "We want to follow every path to get these answers, whether it be legal, or political, or anything else."

Discussion at the meeting included next steps, the relationship between horsepeople and racetracks, HPAO communications, and activities of the organization.

There was a commitment to ensure an open flow of communications, going forward, for anyone interested in knowing more about the organization.