I am at Queen’s Park, just outside of the Premier of Ontario’s office, awaiting the arrival of Kathleen Wynne. She is meeting with us to answer questions on what lies ahead for the horse racing industry in the province.

My expectations for the interview are modest, but I am prepared to be objective and open minded. Ever since taking over as Premier, Wynne has spoken of horse racing as something worth fighting for. Those who work for her repeatedly say that she is wholeheartedly committed to the industry. There are many in horse racing who are understandably skeptical.

I’m not sure we’ll ever know why Dwight Duncan and Dalton McGuinty, with the help of Paul Godfrey, took the approach they did. But whatever the reasons, it is clear now - and not strictly from the horse racing perspective - that the direction was deeply flawed and the consequences, poorly understood.

Wynne warmly invites us into her office and warns us that her answers will be high level. She says that others can speak to specifics. As promised, the Premier gives us 15 minutes of her time and, as expected, she repeatedly says that she wants horse racing to be strong and sustainable. She says she has made a commitment, has teams in place to carry out the work, and has instructed the OLG to integrate with horse racing.

But the one question that I wrestle with, and the industry struggles with, is the linkage between current government revenues at racetrack gaming facilities - and the funding received by the industry.

Now, as slots hum along in racetracks across the province, there seems no reason why Wynne and her government couldn’t support a direct flow of gaming revenues toward horse racing. OLG integration is on the table, as is the idea of a sustainable industry. Modernization has been thwarted at virtually every turn as Ontarians continue to reject the notion of expanding casinos into more downtowns. It seems that the best way to ensure the government’s objectives for horse racing would be to tie funds directly back from gaming to horse racing, at least in some form.

All of the work being done by government and tracks can continue. The newly formed Ontario Horse Racing can help build the business. Accountability and growth can be placed at the top of the agenda. And the horse betting customer can be put first, with revenue incentives tied to how much is wagered on horse racing. There are positives that can come from the current process of reflection and rebuilding.

As Kathleen Wynne sits in front of me, saying some of the right things, she, and her team, have the ability to either set this industry up for success or failure. With a focus on a strong horse racing industry all across the province, and a meaningful funding model that is designed to weather storms and stay strong regardless of who is in charge, the opportunities are endless.

When Wynne is asked about the opposition parties and their motion to return to a Slots at Racetracks program, she talks about not wanting to take a step backwards. What she and her team should realize is that they have an unprecedented opportunity to take a major leap forward, and at the same time, initiate a program that chooses “partnership” over “subsidy” and puts Ontario taxpayers and rural Ontario first.

Darryl Kaplan
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