This month, in “Small Town Talk”, Trot takes a look at how the decisions being made by Ontario’s provincial government are being felt by the fans that frequent the smaller racetracks across the province.

A by-product of chatting with those on the tarmacs and grandstands, is gaining answers to the following question: What do our customers really understand about the product they are watching?

In this case, I am not asking whether they can read a program, handicap a race or make a bet. I am asking whether those who attend the races understand that behind every horse is a farm, a training centre, a broodmare and a stallion. Do they have any idea of the early mornings and late nights, the feed, vets, caretakers and grooms? Are they aware of the everyday care that each horse receives, from the day they are foaled? Do they see horse racing’s participants as protective and caring, or heartless and greedy?

I ask the question because horse racing needs advocates. We need them in bars and restaurants, at banks and in office buildings. We need them out there understanding what the people in the horse racing industry do. And we don’t only need these advocates for today’s battle or tomorrow’s fight. We need them forever – for as long as this sport exists.

When I see organically grown, Ontario produce in the grocery store, I picture farmers using tried and tested methods to get the most from their crops, to keep Ontario green and pesticide free. A fair-trade chocolate bar tells me that someone was paid appropriately for their work. And a domestically produced car means that my money stayed local and was circulated back through the economy.

I’m not actually sure if all or any of these statements are fully accurate, but they make up my basic understanding of the situation at hand.

In horse racing, we have customers who have attended the races regularly for 30 or 40 years. Do they know where horses are bred, sold or trained. Have they visited the paddock, been invited to farms or been made to feel welcome at yearling sales? Based on how they responded to our questions, the answer is no.

Racing Commissions have gone out of their way to “protect” the public by shielding them from seeing behind the scenes. Most tracks and associations have done little to engage the public – even those on site for the races. The effect of decades of closed gates, security personnel, private farms, and poor industry outreach is a disconnect that requires reparations.

The disconnect is what emboldens the government to indiscriminately step on the industry and encourages animal activists to publish untruths. Ultimately the disconnect is what allows opposition to grow and flourish. Despite this, it is quite clear that the public, if they understand the situation, will stand by our side.

If you’ve ever stumbled across a roadside stand promoting where maple syrup, milk or honey comes from, there’s a fair likelihood that some of that information has stuck with you, If you’ve ever held a snake or frog, or seen an exhibit on local hunters, anglers, or cyclists, you’ve probably learned something.

Every day on the frontside of racetracks, thousands of people give us a few hours of their time. And every day, thousands of people funnel out the doors without having any more knowledge of the horse racing industry than they did when they arrived. This is unacceptable.

Open up your farm to the local community one afternoon. Approach your track about setting up a “meet the trainer” or “meet the owner” session. How about drivers walking through the simulcast area in their colours once a month to thank the patrons for being there? None of this takes money or much time, but its impact can potentially last a lifetime. What are we afraid of?

Darryl Kaplan
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