"I'd like to see some of our politicians come that really damaged the harness racing industry. I'd like them to come out to our fair, then let me take them and show them the faces they're hurting."
Those are the words of Leamington and District Agricultural Society president Tammy Wiper, who has spoken with Sharon Hill of The Windsor Star in a preview story for the fair's card of live racing scheduled for Friday, June 15.
The Leamington and District Agricultural Society, which is also runs the training centre for numerous standardbred racehorses at the Leamington Fairgrounds, is just one of the many rural businesses that will be decimated by the Ontario Liberal Government's decision to scrap the slots-at-racetracks program in favour of a highly controversial gaming modernization plan.
"Around seven or eight years ago, my late wife started a comeback for racing here, which is quite popular in the Leamington area," Leamington Fair Board Member Reg Mulholland, who is also a horseman, explained in a video report by The Star.
"The track has now developed into a training centre, of which there are probably 80 horses that train here for various tracks around Ontario and the U.S."
"It's going to be horse heaven around here Friday night," Wiper explained, in anticipation of what will be a memorable evening.
Leamington is all set to run its 10-race Friday program, which will get underway with a 7:00 p.m. first-race post time.
The card will help kick off the 164th edition of the Leamington Fair, which will feature the largest harness racing exhibition at any fair in Ontario.
The fair, which will feature a sizable midway and much more, will run straight through the weekend.
To view the harness racing entries for Friday at Leamington, click the following link: Friday Entries - Leamington Raceway.
(With files from The Windsor Star)