The pari-mutuel machines are gone from Hippodrome de Montreal and its teletheatres
. AmTote reclaimed its leased equipment last week.
The track’s office furniture, electronics and restaurant equipment will be next to go as assets are sold off in the wind-up of failed racetrack operator Attractions Hippiques.
Yves Vincent of trustee RSM Richter said there have been expressions of interest for the items, but an okay from the courts is required before selling.
Proceeds from the sale likely will be applied first to the $51-million in secured debt now held by Attractions Hippiques owner Paul Massicotte, who bought it from a lending syndicate last month for an undisclosed sum. Since the liquidation won’t raise anything near $51 million, regular creditors likely will get nothing.
Vincent said the company has until the end of November to vacate the premises at Hippodrome de Montreal.
Loto-Quebec, meanwhile, has jettisoned the name “ludoplex,” which will forever be associated with the demise of Attractions Hippiques.
The same week Attractions Hippiques ceased operations, Loto-Quebec rechristened the racetrack gaming centres “Salons de jeux.”
The only two “ludoplexes,” at Sulky Quebec and Sulky Trois-Rivieres, generated but a fraction of expected revenues, and Attractions Hippiques – which had no say in their operation – paid dearly for it.
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)