Based on proposals received from the Northern Horsemen’s Association (NHA) and support from Sudbury Downs, the Implementation and Monitoring (IM) Group of the Ontario Racing Program approved a variance to the maximum daily purse level permitted

for Sudbury Downs to $60,000.

The original NHA proposal had suggested alternate percentage variations to the $50,000 maximum daily purse per race card for a Grassroots card, combined with hitching fees ranging from $50 to $75 per horse per start for every horse not receiving purse money in an overnight event. The hitching fee aspect of the proposal has been provided to the Director for consideration but no decision on that portion of the application has been made at this time.

After careful review of the proposal, the IM Group has approved the following for Sudbury Downs:

A variance to the maximum purse level for Grassroots cards from $50,000 to $60,000 per race date.

Some of the factors impacting the decision of the IM Group include:

• Sudbury is the only track in the Northern Region and is at least 3 hours from the nearest Ontario racetrack. Sudbury offers a diversity of racing needed in a racing region, which might otherwise be supplied within a region supported by a number of racetracks. A variance to the maximum daily purse level would help sustain a viable and diversified regional horse population, as well as support local owners and breeders;

• It is recognized by many provincial and federal agencies that Northern Ontario faces unique challenges due to its geographic isolation, sparse population and distance from major markets which results in increased costs of doing business;

• A variance is required to allow the race secretary to write conditions and classes for the horse population that has been established and purchased to race in this region;

• A variance would allow Sudbury Downs to continue to draw a certain level of horses and trainers from other regions, which is required to help ensure a sustainable racing product. This is supported by an analysis provided by Sudbury Downs in their 2011 Business Plan;

• There is some interaction between Sudbury Downs and Georgian Downs raceways but this would not be increased by a variance;

• A variance would allow Sudbury Downs to operate in line with the level of purse distribution in 2010.

With respect to the proposal for hitching fees or starter bonuses, the Director, in other recent decisions, has indicated that approval of this use of purse will not be approved at this time until the broader discussion with the horsepeople community has progressed to the point of providing some guidance. Meetings on this matter have begun and will continue in April and May. Sudbury and its horsepeople are encouraged to take part in these discussions and bring back an application at some future date if such an initiative proves to add value to the racing program and the horsepeople overall.

Included in its decision to allow the variance, the IM Group required Sudbury Downs to provide the following:

• Projections on the use of the available 2011 purse account, factoring in the potential for special event applications to increase the purse allocation for overnight races on special event race dates;

• A detailed marketing plan with specific budget information, to demonstrate future promotional plans to support the variance;

• A monthly report of the number of Horses Entered compared to Horses Raced, with comparisons to 2010, which will be used to analyse the impact of the variance at Sudbury Downs, as well as the impact of closure of stabling facilities at the track.

The IM Group also encourages Sudbury Downs to apply for additional increases in overnight purse money on special event days. The Program envisioned special event days to be specific days throughout the season where the effort to promote around special stakes, or other customer oriented activities aimed at increasing or promoting the customer experience and participation, would justify the increase in purse for that day. It is important that Sudbury Downs provide reasons guided by the Race Date Framework regarding how these days would impact their current business plan.

The IM Group would like to thank the Northern Horsemen’s Association for their efforts in exploring the ways in which the Ontario Racing Program will work within their local region.

The mandate of the IM Group is to implement and monitor the elements of the Ontario Racing Program and to ensure the Program is flexible enough to change, where the need for change is demonstrated and determined to be warranted.

For more information, please contact:

Implementation and Monitoring Group
Wendy Hoogeveen, Industry Development and Support
Bill Fines, Mike Wilson, Rob McKay, Ryan Dupuis, Kerry Wright
(416) 213-0520
[email protected]

Click here to read Sudbury’s application.

(ORC)