Budget Passes Vote; OHRIA Wants Sustainability

At Batavia in new York they are doing a 27 million dollar expansion, the meadows in Pennsylvania is doing a 25 million dollar expansion and in Ontario the olg and the liberals want to get rid of the slots at racetracks. In new York and Pennsylvania they realize how important these racetracks are to helping health and education. Are we that much different than our American neighbors?

The basis of the cancellation of the slots at racetracks program seems to be the OLG's idea it can raise government revenues by turning Ontario into a northern Nevada,They fail to understand the protestant heritage of the province which at best tolerates gambling. That is why the location of gaming facalites at racetracks was accepted because betting already took place there,and the stand alone casinos lose money.The serious flaw in the OLG action is the matter of renegotiating the contracts with the racetracks to replace the slot at racetrack agreement.The OLG has called for proposals from the tracks, when Rod Phillips sees them he will soon lose the silly grin he has on his face. Both Woodbine Entertainment Group and Great Canadian Gaming will want at least 20 percent if not more.When Duncan and McGuinty realise that the cancellation of the slots at racetrack in fact not only increases the deficit,they won't be too happy since it also assures the Liberals defeat at the next election.On factor the OLG has also failed to take into account in its call for more gambling facalites is the need for parking which is in ample supply at racetracks.These points should be given to McGuinty when the industry meets with him

BILL BOJESKI:ANDREA HORWATH AND THE NDP JUST SOLD THE HORSEMAN DOWN THE RIVER. SHE HAD THE LIBERAL GOVERMENT RIGHT WHERE SHE WANTED THEM. TO PASS THE BUDGET SHE SHOULD OF SAID REOPEN WINDSOR, SARNIA AND FORT ERIE SLOTS GIVE US A 100 YEAR CONTRACT AND LEAVE EVERYTHING THE SAME, INSTEAD OF TRANSITIONAL AID.WITH THIS AGGREMENT DID THE NDP GAIN THE SUPPORT OF THE HORERACING INDUSTRY. LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS. BILL B.

Abstaining from voting is NOT doing what they were elected to do. Part of their job was to VOTE! I read an article in which Horwath stated "We’re proud of the gains we were able to make … but we’re certainly reserving our right to fight in the Legislature for things the government didn’t achieve.” What????? Why wasn't everything hashed out BEFORE the vote?? If a lot of what they wanted was not dealt with, they should have voted against the budget, not chicken out of making a direct decision.

So there you have it. Horse racing will be a hobby again which is the way it was for years.If you thought the NDP was going to save you then I hope you weren't going to put too much stock in that. Most people in Ontario don't realize that there is a horse racing industry in Ontario. The racing industry does a lousy job at promoting itself as a sport. Every major sport has team web sites that gives you up to date stats about all their players. If it was not for the Standardbred Canada website I as a fan would know nothing about the progress of various stables. The grass roots operaters have to realize that it is 2012 and everyone has a computer so although they may not think it is important there is a larger world out there that would like to know more about their activities.It should not be all about the betting.

Way to fight Andrea
Welfare recipients will get a raise in there cheques enough to buy a pack of smokes or a few more lottery tickets. The rich will get hit with an extra 2% on earnings over $500.000 which equals about 450 million. That will really help. What about jobs for the people on welfare. Andrea he threw you a chicken bone and ate it. Why didn’t you vote Andrea?

It's imperative that all the stakeholders in the industry/game/sport, and that includes representation from the bettors, reach a consensus (yeah, I know, ridiculous) and articulate how they plan to move forward and make it attractive to the public as a wagering option. Obviously the issue of rake has to be addressed as well as more exposure via OTB outlets wherever they can be put, carryover jackpots that will interest those that take a stab at lotteries, probably a doing away with this whole "home market" concept (maybe even doing away with Provincial jurisdiction), better player rewards, revamping of stupid rules like the ridiculously named fair start pole, access to the TrackIt database free of charge for anyone that exhibits the slightest gambling behavior, the list goes on. Whether or not that might influence the government's policy or not is a moot point, but it's absolutely vital for saving the sport in any case. A good place to start would be examining the European and Australian models and borrowing from them the ingredients that make horse racing a successful industry there.

we need to rally and every body show up take the day off show up for a ggod cause if you want racing to be around

things are moving along just as the Liberals have planned...
when they use the term 'to be discussed'....thats exactly that ...worth only discussion....nothing actually comes out of it.... when they put a number beside a project it generally starts and will run to the next budget...the Slots at tracks is gone, as we know it....
our focus should be to figure out what pieces will be left and create some type of horse racing industry..it is only 20-25 starts away.
One thing puzzles me through this whole process....how easily it was for this government to back out of an agreement....did our lawyers not go over it....
there is a company suing the Liberals for breach of contract for $300 million when they cancelled a hydro project...im sure they will be successful
or was it handled like an old time horse deal with a hand shake....lets not get burnt again if there is another again

Why don't the track operators shut the doors to the casino side of their estlishments or tell the OLGA to get rid of the machines immediately and then see the Government scramble to replace the revenue. Just have the facility used for betting only thereby hopefully increasing the revenue stream from this side. Why continue to support the OLGA as they are now might as well feel the pain now rather than later maybe they will think differently.

If you do not get sustainability rather than transition, racing in Ontario will be history just as it will be in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick.