Published:
April 25, 2010 03:27 pm EDT
According to an article in the Vancouver Sun, the major stakeholders in B.C. horse racing's industry management committee are actively pursuing several options to stabilize the business in B.C.
, which could still include the consolidation of Hastings Racecourse and Fraser Downs into one dual track for thoroughbred and standardbred racing.
"We haven't made a final determination on one track but we do believe that's probably the end result," Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman was quoted as saying in the article. "We need to determine where that is and how it will operate."
To read the Vancouver Sun article in its entirety, click here.
(With files from the Vancouver Sun)
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To see the disaster this
To see the disaster this move would create, look no further than Alberta where we now have two breeds jockeying for dates at the one "A" track left, Northlands Park,
Waiting for one breed or the other to cave in and go away is not the answer either. Both provinces need two main racetracks in my opinion.
Having standardbred racing
Having standardbred racing at Hastings Park, would be the worst thing that could happen to harness racing. Fraser Downs has done a good job of promoting harness racing and we have found our spot in the gaming industry in BC.
The slots at Hastings Park cannot generate enough money to support one breed, how are they suppose to support two breeds. Then to say that the slot from Fraser Downs would be placed elsewhere in Surrey, makes no sense. Who would get the revenue if they move?
A mile race at Hastings Park is near impossible. The track was extended many years ago, so it is a five-eights, plus at least a couple of hundred yards. A mile and seventy yards is the closest the thoroughbreds tried, and now they go a mile and a sixteenth.
To say that both tracks are down for many months, isn't true. There is simulcasting at both tracks, creating revenue that we need for purses. Both tracks are use to get horses ready to race before the season begins.
Hopefully someone will straight out the course Mr Coleman seems to want to take and let us get on with making horse racing a viable industry in BC
To move standardbred racing
To move standardbred racing to Hastings Park would be the end of standardbred racing in B.C. We raced there 30 years ago and it was a complete disaster The grandstand is not winterized the bullring track is too small for an inside track and the main track part of which was built on a garbage dump is too deep for standbreds to race on.The miles used to go in 2.10 to 2.15,the speed we race today would break down our horses.We have an excellent operation at Fraser Downs with an established clientele,compared to many locations we are very successful.Without sounding melodramitic I question the motives of the people making this proposition,getting rid of the standardbreds would enable the throughbreds to race 8 months a year and teletheater money and government support would go completely to throughbreds.