Since Jack Darling's blog called for harness racing to present plans for the future earlier this week, many individuals have stepped up with thought-provoking ideas for Ontario's horse racing industry.
Ivan Gallant thinks racing should take immediate action and force the closure of slot parlours: " I have been tracking this since it started and have had the same feeling for a resolution from day one. "SHUT THE SLOT PARLORS DOWN" This would create an even playing field. No money on either side till a resolution."
Breeder-owner Mike Wilson, who thinks "the horse racing industry has failed miserably to embrace and adapt" to the changes presented by TV and Internet," wants to see higher visiblity for racing through TV, lottery and charitable work.
Georg Leber would like to see support from the minority Conservative government. "If the Conservatives came out with a statement that they would overturn everything the Liberals are doing if they win the next election."
Steve Waldman is calling for the Province's Ombudsman to investigate the Liberal government's continuous "misinformation to the public by calling [the arrangement] a subsidy."
From a perspective outside Ontario, owners Marc Hanover and Gordon Banks would like to see tracks mobilize the businesses around them that would inevitably suffer and die as a result of less traffic. "We suggest that all industry participants proactively work with their local tracks to effectuate a contemporaneous 2-3 hour voluntary closure of all businesses within a specified radius of each track in support of Ontario horseman in their fight against the improper manner of the government’s implementation of their casino vision."
Mike Adams focuses on the customer, lowering takeout, implementing horseplayer "classrooms" and a national jackpot/lottery style wager.
To read more on these ideas and add your thoughts and comments, click the following link: Plans To Save Racing