The Director of the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) announced on Friday the decision on a number of additional applications seeking variances to the assigned dates for 2014.
In addition to previous applications from Woodbine Entertainment Group for Woodbine Standardbred, Western Fair Association and Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (GCGC) for Flamboro, dealt with by the Director in previous notices, applications to vary race dates were received from Rideau Carleton Raceway Holdings Ltd. and GCGC for Georgian Downs.
The Director confirms and approves the schedule of race dates for the 1st quarter of 2014 as follows:
Applicant Number of Race Dates approved for 1st Quarter
-
Woodbine Racetrack - 37 Premier Cards
(Previously Approved) -
Western Fair - 38 Signature Cards
(Previously Approved) -
Flamboro Downs - 52 Signature Cards
(Previously Approved) -
Georgian Downs - 0 Signature Cards
(Approved to cancel 4 race date in early January) -
Rideau Carleton - 14 Signature Cards
(Approved for Sundays, January 12 through March 30, adding Thursdays starting March 20)
Kawartha Downs Limited has advised the ORC that it will not be applying for a 2014 Licence to Operate a Racetrack. Therefore all race dates approved for Kawartha Downs have been cancelled. Additionally, as a result, the 2014 Home Market Areas for Telephone Account Betting formerly approved for Kawartha have been conditionally approved for Woodbine Racetrack, with all net revenues to be held in trust.
Winrac Development Inc. did not submit a complete application for licence and therefore, all race dates approved for Dresden Raceway have been cancelled. Additionally, as a result, the 2014 Home Market Areas for Telephone Account Betting formerly approved for Dresden Raceway have been conditionally approved for Woodbine Racetrack, with all net revenues to be held in trust. Any teletheatres licences currently approved under Dresden Raceway’s 2013 Licence to Operate a Racetrack have not been issued for 2014.
In accordance with Policy Directive 3-2007, all other race date calendars are approved based on previous approvals, but are subject to change where a racetrack operator or other interested party makes an application to vary the approved dates, which will be considered based on the strengths of the business plans submitted and the industry funding available.
The Director is moving forward to implement the components of the five-year Horse Racing Partnership (HRP) Plan, as recommended by the Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel in its final report of October 2013. As part of that implementation, the Director is currently considering options related to a single operator of teletheatres and telephone account betting in the province, as recommended in the HRP. Decisions regarding implementation will be communicated in the coming weeks to ensure that such changes will come into effect April 1, 2014.
Please be advised that you or any other aggrieved party have the right to appeal the Director’s decision to the Commission.
(ORC)