On Thursday, March 6, Randy Pettapiece, the Ontario PC Critic for Rural Affairs and Horse Racing, called on Premier Kathleen in the Legislature to communicate with tracks and finalize race dates as soon as possible.

During question period, Pettapiece said “I’ve spoken to horse racing industry leaders, and they are fed up with this government’s delays. They are tired of excuses.” Pettapiece added that, “Racetracks across Ontario are still waiting for their race dates. Some are waiting to see if they’ll even have a season.”

A release from Pettapiece, followed by video, appears below.

Liberals Jeopardizing Racing Season: MPP Pettapiece

The Liberal government has failed to approve race date applications for many tracks’ upcoming horse racing seasons, says Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece.

Contracts stipulating the terms of the upcoming horse racing season, including the number of race dates at each track, are supposed to be signed by April 1. However, the government is keeping the industry waiting for any indication on whether their applications will be approved.

“I’ve spoken to horse racing industry leaders, and they are fed up with this government’s delays. They are tired of excuses,” Pettapiece said in the legislature’s question period. “Racetracks across Ontario are still waiting for their race dates. Some are waiting to see if they’ll even have a season.”

Pettapiece called on the Premier to communicate with tracks and finalize race dates as soon as possible.

In response, the Premier, claimed that “negotiations are ongoing.” But that is not what Pettapiece has been hearing.

“I’ve had many conversations with industry leaders,” Pettapiece noted after question period. “They all say the same thing: this process is moving much too slowly. I’m very disappointed that the Premier did not commit to a timeline of when race tracks can expect to receive confirmation on their 2014 race dates.”