Jobs Cut At Flamboro Downs

Published: April 4, 2013 08:49 am EDT

More racetrack employee layoffs have been reported within the Ontario horse racing industry as race dates continue to be negotiated.

According to a report on YourHamiltonBiz, an unspecified amount of full-time staff at Flamboro Downs have been reduced to part-time while some positions are being cut completely.

"Some positions have been eliminated, but it would have been much worse if we had no racing," confirmed Great Canadian Gaming Corp.'s Howard Blank.

YourHamiltonBiz has reported that the job cuts are a result of an expected split racing season at the Dundas, Ont. half-mile oval. The article states that after its 16 Ontario Racing Commission-approved race dates in April 2013, Flamboro Downs will no longer be racing year round under its new transitional funding deal. Instead it will operate on a six month schedule of live harness racing from October to April. Blank could not confirm details of the racing schedule.

The reported schedule also places the future of the track's flagship race, the Confederation Cup into question.

On Wednesday, The Innisfil Journal reported that seven workers at the GCGC-operated Georgian Downs have been let go and 15 have been laid off due to its decision to tentatively shut down simulcasting until live racing returns to the Innisfil, Ont. five-eighths mile oval. Western Fair District and Woodbine Entertainment Group also reported racetrack employee layoffs earlier this year due to restructuring as a result of the Ontario Liberal Government's decision to end the Slots-At-Racetracks partnership with the horse racing industry.

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