Published:
December 11, 2009 12:35 pm EST
Ten people are investing $100,000 of their own money to rebuild the sport of harness racing in Quebec and bring back wagering options to the people that bet over $110 million in 2008
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Joe Faucher is the spokesperson for the group, and he talks to Norm Borg about the details of where the horsemen of Quebec will race, when the horseplayers can bet and more on today's edition of Trot Radio.
To hear the full interview with Faucher, click on the play button below.
Episode 76 - Joe Faucher
Running Time: 6:06
Audio Format: MP3 audio
Host: Norm Borg
Tags
Gilbert, I only have to
Gilbert,
I only have to agree with you. It makes me feel as Quebec Horsewomen like if we are going back in time 100 years ago!! They don't have to spend $1.00 to do a project like this they only have to go race at St-Edouard of Lotbinieres like we were doing with my family 40+ years ago and everything was free (Fair tracks always existed in the Quebec Region. We had an offer from the Quebec Government of $9. million keeping 3 professional racetracks opened (Aylmer, Quebec and Trois-Rivieres with over 500 direct jobs + 7000 licenses were paid to the Regie des Courses du Quebec in 2008... and our Quebec Horsemen Association (ATAQ) refused an offer like this and now they are supportive to this ridiculous project. This project only smells BETTING MONEY in their bag .... with no no promise at all for the horsemen from this jockey club like expressed by Mr. Faucher.... May be???? May be what?
From who they will lease the Ferme Grade, at St-Basile Legrand? Did Mr. Massicotte sell this farm?? or will he rent it to this Montreal Jockey Club (my opinion it is a joke). I will tell you why, it is because everything is done secretely and they are afraid to tell the names of their members to the Quebec Horsemen/Horsewomen. If you are transparent and you know the definition of integrity... you should not have anything to hide.
We still have 3 racetracks in Quebec... why not using one of them? They are talking about minimum purse.... what does that mean? Why not telling us what are their minimum purses? Give us some number!!!!!
If this jockey club really has a plan, they should make it public and after horsemen could decide if they want to support this group. My personal opinion, more horsemen are disgusted by this right now....
ATAQ should be ashamed.... to let go our business because the Government offer was to keep the 3 small tracks opened without Montreal. Look at the horse industry now, we looked retarded (we don't need a jockey club to have fair races) .,..... and most of the horsemen are leaving the business. Go look at every racetracks now , Aylmer owner is dropping load of house fillings (garbages) on the parking lots in front of the grand stand and Montreal looks like an abandonned place.... Disaster!
I do not think that a project like this will bring back any of our professional trainers, drivers, owners, grooms and do not forget about all the family who lost everything, they lost a part of their life (years and years of horse racing industry).
I have friends last week selling their last horse, selling their truck and selling their trailer. This is SAD!!!!
You know, we hear so much
You know, we hear so much negativity about our great sport. Every day it seems someone tells me "in ten years there won't be any harness racing" etc etc
Well, I can tell you, as long as we have people like Mr Faucher and his 9 comrades who are willing to go to these lengths to regenerise our sport, harness racing will always always always be in with at least a fighting chance.
How refreshing to hear someone use the word "FUN" when talking about plans for harness racing. Harness Racing can be so much fun.
Hats off to you, Mr Faucher, and the very best of luck in your endevour.
In reply to You know, we hear so much by PeterS
i like your hats off and
i like your hats off and best of luck, they will need it for sure,
funny how when they rejected the offer and they were saying quebec racing would be just like fair racing without racing in Montreal, well this here sure looks even more like fair racing to me, tail gate, that's good,
it sounds so much better than racing at all 3 small race tracks with guaranteed 9 millions for purses between the 3 tracks,....sure makes me even more convinced that it was a good thing to refuse the offer,..!!!
with the few horses left in the province, what will it be, 4 races per afternoon with purses of $400....or maybe 8 races with the same horses racing twice saturday and twice on sunday !!!!
sure looks like a nice recipe for drivers making a few wages themselves to make it a little bit more interesting for them to participate,...
it sure does look like lots of fun allright , as far as i know, fun don't pay the bills for the upkeep of race horses,