Montreal Superior Court Update

The Quebec government is prepared to let racetrack operator Attractions Hippiques acquire a piece of the current Hippodrome de Montréal property on Décarie Blvd. for a teletheatre housing 300 VLTs

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The move would therefore allow Hippodrome de Montréal to stay two years rent-free in the existing building -- despite presenting no live racing in Montreal -- while the teletheatre is built, and let it keep $10 million a year in provincial taxes generated annually on horseracing bets as part of a deal now in the works, trustee Yves Vincent of RSM Richter testified today in Montreal Superior Court.

But Vincent bristled at the suggestion of horsemen's lawyer Jean-Philippe Gervais that it amounted to a "gift" or "subsidy" for the company, preferring to call it "a contractual agreement" between the parties in light of the fact the original business model agreed to it 2006 had proved unfeasible.

Vincent said the government urged the company to settle its differences with Quebec¹s horsemen and breeders, but had not insisted, during current negotiations, on approval from the racing associations of any new deal reached by Attractions Hippiques and the finance department. If they don't support it and the company goes under, the government will simply close the file on horse racing and be done with it, Vincent said.

Attractions Hippiques is in court requesting a further extension of the creditor protection it obtained last June, this one through to April 6. Horsemen and breeders are opposing it, saying their interests and those of the racing industry are not being served.

(A Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean)

Comments

originally Attraction Hippiques was brought on board to "save" the racing industry, it is clear he used this scenerio to get into the gambling industry, 12 million dollars will never support a proper breeding industry, does he care?

could someone please explain to me how the CPMA can allow Attraction Hippiques to similacast racing when there is no live racing in the province of Quebec now ??? The horsemen have stated that they want nothing to do with Attraction Hippques, they have no contract with this particular group and you can't renew a contract if you have changed everything in it so why doesn't CPMA just stop sending the signal and show support for the horsemen!!!!. These poor people have suffered long enough the government should stand up for them and their industry!!!!!

On devrait peut-être laissé tomber Montréal et essayer de vivre avec les petites tracks. Les gens vont beaucoup moins au course qu'avant avec Paritel et les salons de paris. On peut maintenant voir les courses de partout directement de la maison. Alors pourquoi ne pas favoriser les tracks moins couteuses et qui donne une meilleure chances à tout le monde. Pour le moment, les gens de Québec course leur chevaux en Ontario. Est-ce que les proprios regardent leur chevaux courser quand même?

Le gros problèmes c'est l'insécurité et de ne pas savoir ce qui s'envient. S'ils nous garantissent qu'on va courser tous les ans et qu'il aura des stakes pour les poulains que ce soit à Québec à Trois-rivières ou à Montréal, c'est pas grave on veut juste courser pour des bourses raisonnables et être capable de faire une vie.

Who will it benefit? The government only. i hope everybody will join and let them go under. Why should they get more and give the industry less. This is doesn't make any sense.

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