”We all find ourselves in a fight – a fight for our lives, our families’ lives and truthfully the lives of thousands of horses, also.”

Many would argue truer words have never been spoken. Those words were delivered during a speech – that was both passionate and hard-hitting - by driver Anthony MacDonald during last Thursday’s rally at Queen’s Park.

“We have all heard horse racing or health care. It’s been debated in that very building,” stated MacDonald. “There couldn’t be any more of a foolish statement – one has helped fund the other for over 10 years now. But should we really be shocked? This government has never helped out the everyday Joe. Joe has been on his own now for a long time – nine years or so. Joe’s silence has been the Liberal’s strength, but that all ends today. The Liberals fully expected us to lay down, say nothing, shocked and stunned while they scurried away with our portion of the money from the SAR program. The money we race for, the money we feed our children with, the money that helped fund education and, yes, the money that helped fund healthcare.

“Without horse racing in Ontario, thousands and thousands of people and horses are in dire straits,” he added. “Horses that have bought our farms, put our children through schools, paid for truck and trailers and employed countless veterinarians, grooms and blacksmiths. Horses have put over a billion dollars in to the Provincial Government’s pockets. We cannot trust this government, not with our tax dollars, not with our livelihoods and certainly not with our horses. Where is the accountability of these people? Where is the accountability of our government?”

MacDonald’s speech, in its entirety, can be viewed below: