It has now been three months since Quebec went cold turkey on horseracing betting, much to the dismay of many diehard fans. So how are they coping without even off-track
betting as an option?
Retired university professor Louis Ascah and spouse Joanne Leclerc, who used to be regulars of the teletheatre in Sherbrooke, have devised an in-house game of their own while waiting for their favourite sport to return.
Using Woodbine programs available on the internet, Ascah and Leclerc simulate a night at the races by making selections to win and putting $2 per race into a nightly pool. They then watch how their choices did on Woodbine's YouTube replays.
The pool is split according to each player's final tally on $2 win bets. If one totals $30 and the other $10, the split is 75/25. Leclerc, a longshot specialist, is leading so far.
"It's not as exciting as winning real money in real time, but it keeps them current on Woodbine performances and definitely beats the alternative - which is nothing," Ascah said.
"As a harness racing fan for over 50 years, it is sad to see our favourite fun and exciting spectator sport disappear from Quebec," he said. "We particularly miss the activity and camaraderie of the teletheatre."
The Quebec group trying to revive racing in the province hopes to have the teletheatre network back by March, and internet betting within a matter of weeks.
(A Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean)