When referring to the turncoat Snoblen, Lynne Magee says "as you well know breeding is a long term commitment". The operative word here is "know". I have no doubt that Mr Snoblen knows but the problem is he doesn't, nor has he ever cared. He is nothing but a Trojan horse planted with his other two _______ by the Liberals with the sole intention to rubber stamp what the parasite Paul Godfrey has directly or indirectly told him to do.

You are right Mark i am also against privatizing anything the government has anything to do with.We will not be able to afford a Hudak government but the liberals must go.So where do we go from here.

For all those who see Tim Hudak and his anti-working people/pro-business agenda as the salvation of this industry, listen to what Snobelen says, "The opposition motion that passed in the Legislative Assembly on March 28 was pure politics. While the NDP and PC members supported the motion, neither party has a long-term plan to reinstate SARP." Straight from the mouth of a dyed-in-the-wool Tory. Whether you want to admit it or not, if you're like 95% of horsemen, you're just a working stiff like the rest of us. Hudak's plan to privatize anything that moves, including horse-racing, will just make the rich richer and the poor poorer. Once again, if you need proof, look no further than Ornge Ambulance privatized by the Liberals and Hwy. 407 privatized by the Tories.

Will Yamaka,it's cheaper than punching holes in my wall and it sounds like your livelyhood isn't at stake

Keep complaining to each other and sitting on your hands that will change things!!

I don't know how he can keep a straight face with everything that comes out of this mans mouth.I wonder if he really believes what he says, and if he does what a delusional man he is.

Maybe you should take some advice Mr Snobelen and keep your unwanted comments and thoughts to yourself. How can anyone have a future in this industry when the return on investment is just not going to be there anymore. Our costs are just going to keep increasing, and are ability with fewer tracks and race dates to earn income gone we are all going to die a slow death as well as our horses. The grass roots people , the ones that supply alot of the young horses, breed , raise and develop the stars of tomorrow will soon be gone, because they simply will not be able to afford to be in it. What would have been wrong with suspending the end of the program and do proper due diligence and consult with industry stake holders to build a better and stronger industry under a proper time frame ? You sir , live in a dream world and are so out of touch with reality and the racing industry and that is the sad part. I hope one day soon you will feel our pain but unfortunately those with a silver spoon in there mouth never usually do .

Mr. Snobelen, were you including yourself in the bingos and slot machines that do not have a heart? Horses have been a big part of Ontario and Canada, contributing to the race horses and working horses. Don't put the cart before the horse, or in this case, the bingos and the slots. These hard-working men, women, and children have gone through generations and generations of racing. What phrase best decribes these honest, perservering people? One would not have to look further than an afternoon at Western Fair Raceway. His name isn't Mister Ed, his name clearly shows the heart of these people, his name is

"It's What I Do".

As a racing fan, I'llHaveAnother, Ontario needs racing.

You would think if a government was serious about trying to improve horse racing they would consult the horseman and women of our industry. Let us have a say who will be on a transition panel. To let an ex politician on the panel just because he happened to own horses does not help an industry that is being attacked by a government. This man has done nothing for us. He from the beginning called it a subsidy, now he does not. He is first a politician, he will say what the people signing his cheques want him to say. This guy has to be taken off the transition panel. Our problem is other politicians are seriously listening to him. Wynn has said she has listened to the transition panel. The horse racing industry has put our horses and our way of life in the hands of three individuals.

Mr. Snobelen is handing out the same substance that originates in a race horses' stall every day.

Instead of doing interviews & columns let the horsepeople know what their deal is. Everybody else has their deals ,OLG,BINGO(Tannenbaum)and finally the racetracks themselves but 16 months after the bomb was dropped the horsepeople ,who have their whole lives invested don't have a clue how bad this is going to be.
Can Mr. Snobelen tell us why 16 months after notice was given that SARP would end because its just not possible to continue at the racetracks, that the OLG has resigned most of the tracks to keep their slots and that no shovel has gone in the ground to build their new casinos. In this round of musical chairs the horsepeople were the only ones left without a place to sit or a share of the revenue. Please be honest, this entire exercise was to eliminate horse racing or at least cripple it beyond repair. I hope you are getting a good deal Mr. Snobelen, because if you are not that means you're drinking the same Kool-Aid you're feeding us.

The liberals should know about having hearts because they sure don't have any.Just look to the poor cheaper horses who have nowhere to race what does the future hold for them,you tell me Mr Snoblen because i already know the final outcome and you and the liberals pretend you don't.

With a new Government a lot of these guys "WILL BE LEFT IN THE PAST"

It is very easy for Mr. Snobelen to "Leave the past behind." he hasn't invested his entire life, personal and financial, into this industry. Over the past 3 years we have invested 25,000 dollars into a horse trailer, 25,000 dollars into a truck, 35,000 dollars into our yearling filly, 4,000 into our unborn foal, thousamds of dollars into equipment and about 80,000 dollars in yearly expences only to be told that we will have to due with less then 1/2 of the income from here on out. Does the transitional panel have any ideas for us as to how we are going to be able to pay our bills after their so called saving of our once great industry? If they do then maybe they should tell the media about this rather then what a great deal they made for us, Because from where I stand it doesn't seem so wonderfull. When the time comes that I can say that I have found good homes for all of our (unproductive animals) instead of having to put them down then, maybe, I will be able to put the past behind. I, and I wager to,say most of the hardworking people in this buisness will never forget what this government has done to us. The manner in which this Liberal government has treated us has made us feel as if we are second class citizens and a drain on society in a country that I was once so proud to be a part of. I, like many others, have lost faith in government at all levels and this is just one more reason for us to keep on having many, many ,many more sleepless nights. I pray to God for these politicians because if I prayed for what I think of them I would probably be struck by lightening.

"Leave the past behind"---easily said, Mr. Snobelen but not so easily done. Because of the SARP, many people invested heavily in the racing industry in Ontario. Many of us have farm mortgages, loans for trucks and trailers, farm machinery, etc. Breeders invested heavily in the future of horse racing in what was once the cream of the crop of this inustry. As you well know, breeding horses is a long-term investment along with the others mentioned. Many investors have employees to pay. It's not as simple as just turning off the tap and starting a fresh bathtub of water. We are drained, Mr. Snobelen and, frankly, I don't see that what is forecast for this next year is going to be of much use to anyone who, at one time, was planning to keep investing in the racing industry as farm owners, consumers and tax payers in Ontario. I wish there was reason for more of us to be encouraged by your words.

So what would you have us leave behind John? The good old days when we could race a horse 2 weeks out of three and maybe pay our bills? I just entered my mare at RCR. She hasn't raced since March 28. She drew as the AE last week, and did not draw in this week. I guess I get to wait ANOTHER week and try for April 18. Good thing I can afford to keep paying her upkeep to race once a month - NOT!! Welcome to sustainable horse racing!

Callous words from a man who is determining the future of many. "LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND" How is that possible when the sport and livelyhoods are derived from past performances and in the case of breeding the potentioal of future performances. Our lives in their hands sounds more apt.
Your dam right we have a problem leaving the past behind when that past accomodated the OLG at tracks now kicked to the curb in some cases. Why leave it behind when the model worked and was exported with great success to other areas namely in the US shows it is working right?
The OLG is reminding us on a daily basis thru ads on tv, media how good it has been to health care. Isnt that the govts responsibility or can the same happen with health care when a new political view is in power. A new era in horse racing he says!!!! one that has to deal with.
Its breeding program devestated and investment down because of political statements like Mr Snobelen ..... Were ok though with his stat that more professional women are entering into ownership where on earth did that stat come from or is he paying lip service to the Premier.
$340 million a year goes offshore from ONTARIO alone thats the reason for the drop in handle not that people are not wagering on Harness racing in Ontario. For years new wagers have been halted ones which would improve the handle we are now being overtaken by other countries racing foresight. The Swedish wager which is readily available and could have been an Ontario wager. Plus exchange wagering Its not the racing fan that has to carry the whole industry on his shoulder its the ability of the player to play and not be restricted by antiquated regulations. Glad to see Mr Snobolens has a complete grasp of the situation ...

If the panel wants the industry to leave the past behind it must tell the industry what the future will look like. Kathleen Wynne may know what a smaller sustainable industry is and how it will be integrated into the OLG but she certainly hasn't let anyone else know. The number of race dates and purse structure is key for a breeder trying to justify investing in a industry devastated by Dwight Duncan's announcement last February. It left everyone with absolutely no confidence in the future. Everybody in the horse industry accepts the known risks of horse racing but how can the government expect anybody in this battered business to commit to the expensive and lengthy process of re-branding and renewing without Kathleen Wynne articulating a shared vision of the future.
The industry must know if racetrack operators will be qualified by the OLG to bid on gaming opportunities on their own properties and how this will be related to purse structures and dates.
The government must tell the industry whether the talk of lotteries and single game sports betting was speculation or a serious opportunity to develop new revenue streams to supplement wagering.
The government must tell us how many tracks are necessary in the future and decide which tracks cannot compete for wagering dollars and will cease to exist as racing entities.
Without a firm commitment as to what a "sustainable industry " looks like an already moribund breeding industry will fail altogether leaving the province with nothing. We approach a tipping point where it will be too late to save any of the industry no matter what the government intends.
In short an industry which has traditionally been fractured along breed and for the lack of a better term class lines now needs leadership from the government. Either Agriculture Minister Wynne lobbies on behalf of her industry and articulates her vision of what racing will look like three years from now and how it will be financed or Premier Wynne should do us all a favor and tell the industry don't expect anything else and look elsewhere if you wish to remain in racing. At least sixty percent of the industry has vanished. Without our Agriculture Minister taking seriously the need of her constituents the rest will soon follow.

If that's not calling the kettle black. More "lip service" from Snobelen. We have no choice but look to the future but I personally will never forget what the Ontario Liberals have done to a once vital and thriving industry. We have to expose the truth behind the sudden cancelation of a revenue sharing program that was win/win all around. We should not forgive and forget that the Ontario Liberals decimated Horse Racing and are the reason the Ontario economy is circling the drain as we speak!

Sorry folks, I can*t let these comments go by without a response. I*ll try to put them in a context that can be printed! Is the probability of tens of thousands of people now working in the agriculture sector being out of work? Probably! Will my standardbred horses be racing every week? Probably not! How about every two weeks? Probably not! How about every three weeks? Maybe! How about every four weeks? Maybe! Can even the top trainers keep them at the top of their game without competition? Probably not! There are always exceptions. Cutting our purses hurt, cutting our race days is a disaster! With all DUE respect to Mr. Snobellen, his knowledge of standardbred racing is about on a par with Mr. McMeekin's!

This is easy for Snobelen to say. His livelihood is not at stake and I'm sure he has gained by all this via a fat fee for his consultation services. This Liberal gov't simply refuses to admit that this whole process of cancelling the SAR program was fundamentally flawed and done without any foresight or consultation with any members of the horse racing industry. They have destroyed a vibrant horse industry and a successful program that was copied around the world and was certainly the envy of North America, so much so that it attracted international investors. Now, most are abandoning the ship in droves. What was once a thriving and prosperous industry will now be subjected to handouts doled out by this gov't and future gov'ts as they see fit and will undoubtedly be subjected to budget cuts in the future. Was it perfect? Definitely not. But it could have simply been adjusted to address the deficiencies of the program. This would have been the logical and rational thing to do. Now unfortunately, we become a truly "subsidized" industry, at the mercy of this gov't and every gov't to follow. Snobelen is living a "pipe dream" if he thinks that horse racing will once again become prosperous and prominent. As long as the OLG makes the rules pertaining to gaming and controls the gambling monopoly in Ontario, horse racing will become and remain secondary to it's gambling interests. Quite frankly, lotteries make more money. This may seem very negative to some, however one must also face reality. To all of you who remain in the industry, I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. As for me, I'm all done.

There's no question that the Horse Racing Industry needs to concentrate more on promoting its product and developing a larger fan base. Casinos, online poker, sports wagering etc., have created a lot of competition but they have also, to a degree, created a culture of gambling ... which the Horse Racing Industry should be taking advantage of.

That said, Mr. Snobelen seems a little out of touch with reality. Other Horse Racing jurisdictions have realized the economic benefits provided by Horse Racing and have provided significant support to ensure that it thrives and survives. Then there's the Ontario Liberals who, through either gross incompetence or a deliberate effort, have blindsided the Industry throwing it into turmoil.

One month ago, Kathleen Wynne announced that Ontario Horse Racing would be integrated into the OLG's new modernization plan. There were no details given then ... and today, more than a week after SARP has been cancelled, there are still no details.

May I suggest his yearly income be cut back to 20% of what it is now and then I also suggest that he forget the past and look to the future and survive on what he has left. Would he be happy? I very much doubt it.

But they used a sledgehammer on us. They didn't give us time to come up with any solutions (that includes OMAFRA). Everything about this nonsense is still so secretive we have nowhere to start.

You are absolutely correct Mr. Snobelen, except for one aspect. The mathematicly challenged liberal party has run the economy of this province into the ground. This decision is all about the money. Too much money. The liberals seem to think that the revenue stream is going to continue. It isn't. Like General Motors, Caterpillar tractor and many other industries Exxon Mobile included (Belleville) industries that have ceased to expand because of government legislation, horseman are fleeing the province. Do not for one minute think that the voters believe that industry is expanding in Ontario. It isn't. Stop kidding your self and trying to kid the voter into thinking this is a good thing that you are doing. Just thinking out loud. Bruce T. Winning.

It never ends. Loss of jobs, loss of income, track closures and several related business's either laying off people or down sizing to cope from the loss of income. Mr. John Snobelem's statement " leave the past behind " and get on with life is an understatement. The fact that he said the standardbred racing interest will always thrive because a race horse has a heart and bingo's, casino's and slot machines do not is rediculous. I wish Mr. John Snobelem had a heart when it comes to the standardbred racing industry. We are all aware this whole situation regarding the removal of slots at racetracks is strictly pure greed on behalf of our governmenmt and contrary to the government maintaining it was a subsidy is also a falsehood as we all know it was a contractual agreement with a share revenue of the slots. I have owned standardbred race horses for years and always enjoyed the sport however with the uncertainty in the industry and the loss of revenue I must now consider leaving an industry that I so much enjoyed. I can only hope and pray that a last minute mandate can be worked out with the government that will save the industry and not end it.

Sadly Mr.Snobelen and this government's vision of the future is a blast from the past. I would suggest the current business model they are proposing is a pre-1980's model. By that I mean less tracks, less days of racing, less horses being bred and the biggest impact less full time jobs. I am always hearing talk from Mr.Snobelen and the other transition panel members along with government members on the need for new revenue streams for racing. My question again which still hasn't been answered is where will these streams come from? They say from gaming and the OLG but hey didn't we already have that, a partnership.
Certainly won't come willingly from the OLG now as they have shown zero interest in horse racing. Also would Mr.Snobelen or the panel explain to me how electronic gaming "racing vlt's" help build a customer base. Do any of the transition members understand how long a process it is to make any changes in wagering with the CPMA. All this talk of modernizing racing is just that. I see a future after this "transition" money runs it's course as being one or two tracks offering enough in purse money to race. The rest may have fair type meets for hobbyists because you sure won't be able to earn a living in this new business model.

this is all easy for you to say John Snowbelen. I am fellow that wanted to horse racing when I retire in two years. But without the money from slots it will be too expensive and less places to race. All the little places will no longer will be there, and the ones that will be there will only have room for a horse to race once a month if that, You can't keep a horse race ready to only race once a month. It was hard enough at twice a month.

You don't have to feed a Bingo card or slot machine.

Talk about lip service...?