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.
The NDP and PC need to take
The NDP and PC need to take down the budget, and CALL AN ELECTION. looks like a last resort to this mess...( I for one have just entered my 10 yr old Mare to a farm / horse sale this saturday) thanks leo samarillo
I still maintain ...NO RACING
I still maintain ...NO RACING NO SLOTS.!!!!!!!
It's becoming a weekly event
It's becoming a weekly event with these layoffs. Very sad :(
What we don't hear much about are the stories about trainers looking to sell or give away their 'B' track horses now as the writing is on the wall. Same goes with bloodstock. How many of these horses will end up in the slaughterhouses?
You used to be able to make a living racing the B circuits. Not anymore. My heart goes out to these trainers/drivers/grooms who will have to abandon their life's calling.
Our horse made almost 70K racing the B circuits last year. This year? He'll be lucky to make 1/3 of that if he has the same type of year.
But the ever popular Mayor
But the ever popular Mayor Rob Ford said this morning that a new casino will creat 10,000 jobs?......really?
It just keeps on going. More
It just keeps on going. More job cuts, more people will be applying for unemployment and welfare. Why don't they just tell us what is going on and be done with it? We deserve that much at least. We don't even know weather or not be should rebreed our mares, buy equipment or just sell everything and cut our losses as much as possible. I like their slogan :Transparency and Accountability; That's a laugh.
What does this mean ? Anyone
What does this mean ? Anyone that has B horses will have to get rid of them because there is NOWHERE to race. Other B tracks besides Flamboro will be flooded with horses and people cannot afford to race once a month.
Nice job TRANSITON team let's hear more praise about what a wonderful job you have and are doing.
This continual so called
This continual so called downsizing is sure taking an awful toll on those who used to have jobs in this industry! I keep hearing how self sustaining we*re going to be, but when our most active tracks shut down for extended months we are forced to travel farther to find racing albeit with reduced purses! I love racing at the smaller tracks when I can, but expenses are not going down so as participants this new format appears to put most of us out of business in the long term! Perhaps this format is intended to give Paul Godfrey his wish? My heart bleeds from a thousand cuts for these hard working individuals who are entering a new phase in their lives made up of unemployment, welfare and misery. It didn*t or shouldn*t have come to this. I remember when Ontario was the engine driving this country*s business. Like Mr. Fisher I*m also becoming ashamed of my once proud country who always prided ourselves on helping others! Now we can*t even help our own! How sad, value for money is just a catch phrase, that means nothing!
Haven't been there since
Haven't been there since Somebeachsomewhere raced in the Confederation Cup and it was packed then,goes to show if you have a big draw, either horse or type of race, the crowds will follow.
The Liberals are doing a
The Liberals are doing a great job creating more jobs for Ontario (?)
Maybe Mr Tanenbaum can create a few thousand more jobs at his "revitalized" Bingo Halls ... with his 47% of the revenue.
In reply to The Liberals are doing a by youngr46
Sir TANENBAUM gets 75% OLG
Sir TANENBAUM gets 75% OLG gets 25% i wish i had FREINDS like that what a joke