On Friday, December 14, the Ontario Racing Commission issued a notice to the industry regarding the ORC Director's decision in regard to the race-date variance requests for the first quarter of 2013.

The contents of the ORC's notice to the industry appear below (please click on the link contained within the release to view the commission's reasons for decision).

Also, please click on the links which appear below the contents of the ORC release to view the consolidated Ontario race dates for the first quarter 2013, and the individual racetrack calendars for the Ontario race dates for the first quarter of 2013.

NOTICE TO THE INDUSTRY

Ontario Racing Program – 2013 Schedule of Race Dates

ORC confirms the Ontario Racing Program for 1st Quarter 2013

Notice of Director’s decision regarding 1st quarter 2013 Race Date variance requests.

The Director of the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) today announced the decision on the applications received seeking variances to the assigned dates for 2013. A total of five applications were received from four different racetrack operators, which in total sought to reduce the number of 2013 race dates in January, February and March from 224 days to 165 days, a reduction of 26 per cent.

Having considered the recommendation of the Implementation and Monitoring Group on the applications and the public input received, the director issues the first quarter Ontario Racing Program for 2013 as follows:

APPLICANT NUMBER OF RACE DATES APPROVED FOR 1st QUARTER

APPLICATION DENIED
Woodbine Racetrack
• 51 Premier Cards
• Schedule maintained at four days a week

APPLICATION DENIED
Western Fair
• 51 Signature Cards
• Schedule maintained at four days a week

APPLICATION VARIED
Flamboro Downs
• 52 Signature Cards
• Approved to reduce to four days a week from five; dropping 13 Thursdays --- Wednesdays remain

APPLICATION VARIED
Georgian Downs
• 4 Signature Cards
• Approved to cancel one race date, March 30, 2013
• Schedule in first two weeks of January remains

APPLICATION APPROVED
Rideau Carleton
• 27 Signature Cards
• Approved to cancel three Fridays in March --- add January 1

Based on recommendation of the IM Group, the director also varies the race date schedule at Kawartha Downs, moving the Monday Signature Card to Tuesdays, and confirms the race date assignment as follows:

Kawartha Downs
• 23 (11 Grassroots Cards, 12 Signature Cards)

In summary the Director approved 208 race dates for the first quarter of the 2013 calendar, which includes a reduction of 16 dates (7 per cent reduction over the same period in 2012).

The reasons for decision are attached to this notice.

Please be advised that you or any other aggrieved party have the right to appeal the director’s decision to the commission. Please note that the following date(s) has been set aside for any required hearings: December 28, 2012 (also December 31, 2012 if needed). Any notice of appeal must be filed no later than December 17, 2012.

• Consolidated Ontario Race Dates 1st Quarter 2013
• Individual Racetrack Calendars Ontario Race Dates First Quarter Quarter 2013

(With files from the ORC)