The overwhelming refusal from Quebec horsemen this week to extend the contract for live racing in Montreal beyond Nov. 30 is a clear indication many would rather see struggling racetrack operator Attractions Hippiques fold than keep shrinking the industry and prolonging their agony.
“The money they’re offering ($3.9 million in purses for all Quebec tracks in 2009, down from $11 million this year) simply isn’t enough for us to keep horses. It’s a losing proposition,” said Michel St. Louis, president of ATAQ, the provincial horsemen’s association.
St. Louis said it’s reached the point most members would rather take a chance on an unknown white knight stepping forward than continue living under a regime in creditor protection.
“The future is better with nothing than what we have presently,” he said.
The first of what’s shaping up as a long list of legal challenges by various industry participants is scheduled for Wednesday in Montreal Superior Court.
(Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean)
As usual the Quebec
As usual the Quebec Goverment screws up again. What once was the place to race in North America, is now a ghost town for harness racing. What still puzzles me is that Ontario which is their neighbour has been successful, wouldn't it make sense to copy their plan? Not in Quebec it doesn't!!
The writing was on the wall
The writing was on the wall as early as 2000. Sadly, many Quebec industry insiders and even participants knew it. Rather than share the news, many benefited only for themselves, then sat back quietly and watched the bottom fall out. Sorry folks, you just had to read in between the lines. For example: Did anyone question why so many power stallions left the province when they did?
It's a crying shame what
It's a crying shame what Attraction Hippiques and the quebec gournment has done
To Harness racing in Quebec.
This beautiful sport has been ruined in our province and all that we can hope for is
the preverbial white knight!
As it stands we have lost a great number of horsemen and it's sad to say that there will be more losses before moving forward again .