OLG To Meet With Hanover Thursday
It has been reported that the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. will be conducting negotiations with representatives from Hanover Raceway on Thursday (October 11) in regard to extending the lease on the track's slot-machine gaming area.
The news comes courtesy of an article by Bill Walker on owensoundsuntimes.com, which contains comments from the track's general manager, Gord Dougan.
Dougan has told Trot Insider that the opening lease offer from the OLG came in at a dollar per square foot, which, according to Dougan, isn’t enough to cover operating costs, but he did explain that the agreement would be a 'net-net' deal. Dougan told Trot Insider that the net-net deal would include all operating costs, but that doesn't include racing.
Dougan also discussed the topic of live race dates for 2013, but gave absolutely no clarity on the situation due to the fact that everything is up in the air due to the mess the OLG and minority Liberal government have made of the provincial horse-racing industry.
“I can’t really plan for race dates until I know that I have funding for them,” Dougan was quoted as saying.
“Obviously we want to have 30 dates but we need the funding for them. There are 200 to 400 horse people in the area who are (in limbo) until we know. It impacts the entire community and the entire economy. They can’t spend money they’re not going to have.”
Dougan also noted that he believed attendance at the races was down close to 10 per cent this season, due in part to bad weather post heat wave and the massive uncertainty in the industry.
(With files from owensoundsuntimes.com)
So what happened at the
So what happened at the Hanover Raceway meeting with the OLG or is it too bad to print?
They are trying to refrain
They are trying to refrain from releasing any decisions until we are backed into a corner. Is OHRIA included in meetings with tracks. if no, why not. And finally, better listen to Ed Hayter and forget talking net!!
I think that if the tracks
I think that if the tracks really truly care about the horse industry, they have the leverage right now to both help themselves and the industry. The OLG does not have the time or infrastructure in place to put casinos into the 29 gaming zones for another two or three years at least.
They desperately need the race track facilities to keep the slots in or they will lose billions of dollars in revenue. Give them an ultimatum, reinstate the slots at race tracks or get out of our buildings. The threat of losing billions of dollars of revenue may bring them to the bargaining table.
In reply to I think that if the tracks by fonzzie
There isn't a track in
There isn't a track in Ontario that will say "get out". Its all about the bottom line.Always was and all ways will be. If a track provides racing is secondary to having a slot deal. Make no mistake all the tracks will put slots first.
Never ever talk net. Always
Never ever talk net. Always talk gross. Net can always be made to equal zero.
Ed Hayter
should point out i was
should point out i was misquoted. what i said was the olg offered a net net deal that doesnt include racing. of course a net net deal would include all operating costs for the building. however, were an ag society and our goal is to provide live racing. were hoping for a partnership going forward that will allow us to do that.
Looks like the govt.is trying
Looks like the govt.is trying to hold off it's report until they have everyone backed into a corner and committed to OLG.
Tell OLG aka the Paul Godfrey
Tell OLG aka the Paul Godfrey mess, that the municipality gets 10% of the net, the track gets 10% of the net and the horsemen get 10% of the net, Dwight Duncan will love this as I predict in the next few months the credit people are going to lay the law down on this bunch of free spenders. Bruce T. Winning. Do not envy your job Mr Dougan.