I would like to encourage everyone involved in horse racing to participate in the Standardbred Canada (SC) National Economic Impact Survey. 

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I can’t stress the importance to hear from everyone involved in racing. The trainers, breeders and owners are so vital to our industry. 

As a Director of Standardbred Canada, I have heard members' requests for SC to do more to support our industry and horsemen. Standardbred Canada’s federal mandate has limitations on what SC can do but this is a first major step in developing a solid strategy going forward that will help give us the data and the tools in which SC will be better positioned to help support horsemen in the years to come. 

This is truly the most important survey that horsemen have ever had the chance to participate in. It doesn’t matter if you are involved with one horse or dozens, your information will matter. Everyone is just as important. I understand that the survey is quite in depth and requires some homework to be done but this truly is worth your time and effort. It really is that important to our industry. I urge all industry participants to please take the time to get this survey filled in and returned.

The management team at SC has worked very hard with CTHS to develop this survey and SC is very excited and can’t wait to have this information available to them to establish better government relations at all levels of government. It will be information that SC will be able to share with all our racing associations across Canada, if they request it. 

This is an important step for SC and horsemen to better understand and have the facts about how important our industry is to the country. It will give us and confirm, for the first time, legitimate information and data gathered from coast to coast. 

Please take the time to complete the survey and return it before the end of the year. This is our chance to play an important role and your involvement will matter — a lot! 

I understand that we, as horsemen, tend to think we will leave this to others to fill out.   

But please make this your turn to do something that can really make a difference for the horse racing industry. The horse industry is waiting for all of us to do our part on this one.

Happy holidays and a very Merry Christmas to all horsemen and let’s have a great new year by getting this survey back to SC.

Blair Corbeil

Western Region Active Director and Vice Chair
Standardbred Canada