The National Capital Region Harness Horse Association has announced that all horsemen participating on Rideau Carleton Raceway's Sunday, March 25 program will walk the track to the grandstand between the third and fourth race to protest the Ontario Liberal Government's intention to step away from the slots-at-racetracks program
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The NCRHHA has announced that the action will be taking place because many horsemen are unable to partake in the Queen's Park rally scheduled for Monday, March 26. For complete information on the rally, including updated bus departure times, click here
For Trot Insider's complete coverage regarding the fallout and uproar in response to the OLG and Ontario Liberals' treatment of the provincial horse-racing industry, click here.
The contents of the NCRHHA's release announcing the RCR walk appear below.
On Sunday night between the 3rd and 4th races all horsemen at Rideau Carleton Raceway will walk the track to the grandstand to protest the suggested removal of the Slots at Racetracks Program, which was implemented more than a decade ago.
This program has allowed the horse racing industry to maintain jobs while providing a solid base in the rural agricultural economy. Any changes to this program will have a significant impact on tens of thousands of real people.
Unfortunately, many horsemen are unable to attend the rally at Queen's Park on Monday, so in an effort to show their solidarity they have planned the Sunday march.
NCRHHA Director, John MacMillan will also give a brief televised statement outlining the plight of harness racing. For those of you not able to be at Rideau Sunday night you can watch the march live at the Rideau Carleton website.