The Standardbred Owners Association of New York has announced that it stands firmly behind all those hard working horsemen in Canada who are trying to protect the interests of harness racing and who intend to rally at the government building in Queen's Park, Toronto on Wednesday

, February 21.

Harness racing is an important industry that employs thousands upon thousands of people in Ontario and beyond. Racing is one, if not the most labour intensive industry around, providing employment for drivers, trainers, veterinarians, blacksmiths, caretakers, etc., as well as in fields that supply the goods and services to the industry. Some of those services are supported by the producers of veterinary supplies, racing and shoeing equipment, medicines, the auto industry and the all-important farming industry that supplies hay, straw and grain to the vast number of harness horses in the sport that presently reside in the province.

All efforts to remove economic support for the harness horse industry and alter the legislative model which established slot parlours at racetracks should not be tinkered with at the expense of so many hard working people. The SOA of NY is cognizant of the struggle occasioned by difficult economic times but that does not provide the justification to destroy an industry of long tradition in both Canada and the United States that employs tens of thousands of people. We applaud the efforts of Canadian horsemen to protect an industry, the destruction of which will definitely have dire consequences for the lives of so many.

(Joseph Faraldo, SOA of NY President)