Further to the announcement on Dec. 18, 2020, from the Ontario provincial government that certain businesses in certain regions, such as casinos and racetracks, will be restricted further operationally, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation will be suspending gaming operations at Elements Casino Brantford and racing operations at Flamboro Downs as of Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Live racing without spectators, with pari-mutuel wagering offered on those races via simulcast, had been conducted at Flamboro Downs since Sept. 3, 2020. Gaming operations at Elements Casino Flamboro (the same location as Flamboro Downs), were suspended on Nov. 15, 2020.
Currently, six of Great Canadian Gaming's 26 properties are open with the four Ontario properties operating with a guest capacity of 50, Casino New Brunswick operating with 25 per cent of pre-closure capacity, and Casino Nova Scotia Sydney operating with 20 per cent of pre-closure capacity. Emergency health orders continue to remain in place in all provinces the company does business in.
Details regarding the reopening of Elements Casino Brantford and Flamboro Downs will be announced at a later date.
(With files from Great Canadian Gaming Corporation)
Let's be proactive. If, in
Let's be proactive. If, in talking with the City or people responsible, we feel this break could be longer than the holiday season, Plan B could be to re-open either Grand River or Georgian Downs until Flamboro is ready.
If it's not possible to re-open GR or GD, we could do something like what Rideau Carleton did, they reduced number of racing day from 2 to 1 but increased number of races in the program from 10 to 15.
Perhaps Western Fair could increase their number of races from 10/11 to 15 per program to deal with the surplus of entries caused by the Flamboro closing.
Come on people let's get the ball rolling and position our industry so the horsepeople and owners don't go through another struggle.