Following the March announcement that the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) will end annual grants to fund the provincial horse racing industry in 2013, the Saskatchewan Standardbred Horsemen's Association (SSHA) is hoping it can work out a deal to receive a cut from simulcast wagering profits
to help sustain racing.
Currently, revenue from all simulcast wagering goes to Prairieland Park's now thoroughbred-only track Marquis Downs in Saskatoon even though harness tracks in Yorkton and Regina are operating race meets. According to CBC News Regina, LeDrew has been trying to work with Marquis Downs and the SLGA to change the revenue sharing formula to include the harness tracks.
"From our perspective, for our industry it's the only chance we have to survive," said LeDrew in the CBC News Regina video report.
However, according to the report, the SLGA says that Regina does not host enough race dates to qualify for profits from simulcast wagering. Yorkton's Cornerstone Raceway hosts 16 race dates while the new West Meadows Raceway in Regina hosts four. Marquis Downs operates a 30-day race meet for the thoroughbreds.