The 2018/19 Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP), based on the recommendations of the industry representative Thoroughbred Advisory Group and Thoroughbred Working Group, has been approved by the Ontario Racing Board of Directors.
The total 2018 program budget, which is largely funded by the levy on wagering by Ontario customers, is set at $12.74 million, with total race purses and stakes supplements of $9.59 million.
The $12.74 million program includes a voluntary $300,000 contribution from Woodbine Entertainment Group to directly fund opportunities to increase horse supply and additional funding of purses.
2018 HORSE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS FUNDING
Since 2014, HIP Revenues have included approximately $26M in wagering levies from the Pari-Mutuel Tax Reduction (PMTR), as well as a $4 million top-up to bring each of the Standardbred and Thoroughbred Programs to the $15M level. However, due to a change in the funding mechanisms and a decline in Ontario customer wagering levels on both Standardbred and Thoroughbred races, the 2018 Programs have had to be adjusted to accommodate a funding decrease of approximately $2.25M per breed. Overall, the budgeted expenditures for the 2018/19 Thoroughbred Improvement Program will decline by about 15% from the 2017/18 budget.
2018 THOROUGHBRED IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM DETAILS
Breeders Incentives and Other Programs - $2,925,000
Breeders Awards: $2,593,000
Equine Research: $25,000
Fort Erie Owner’s Bonus and Sales Credits: $41,000
Stallion Awards: $266,000
Program Purse Contributions - $6,358,000
Restricted Overnight – Woodbine: $3,721,000
Restricted Overnight – Fort Erie: $310,000
Ontario Bred Purse Bonus – Woodbine: $2,077,000
Ontario Bred Purse Bonus – Fort Erie: $250,000
Thoroughbred Stakes Supplements - $3,233,000
Triple Crown Series: $492,000
Canadian Bred Stakes: $365,000
Ontario Bred Restricted Stakes: $300,000
Yearling Sales Stakes: $478,000
Ontario Sire Stakes: $1,597,000
Administration and Marketing - $228,000
For more information on Ontario’s Horse Improvement Programs, visit ontarioracing.com and select “For Industry Insiders” and “Breeding Programs”. The TIP Administrator (CTHS) may be contacted at (416) 675-3602. Ontario Racing is responsible for the administration of all non-regulatory functions of horse racing in Ontario.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why did funding for the Thoroughbred Improvement Program decrease?
There are two reasons. First, due to a change in the funding mechanism, revenue for each of the Thoroughbred and the Standardbred Improvement Programs declined by approximately $2.5 million. Second, TIP is largely funded by the levy on wagering by Ontario customers. As wagering declines, so does HIP funding. Wagering by Ontario customers declined 3.3 percent in 2017-2018.
What was the total decline in funding?
To produce a balanced budget, $2.24 million (approximately 15 percent) was cut from the budget.
Who decided where the cuts would be made in the Program?
The Thoroughbred Advisory Group appointed a Working Group of industry representatives from the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society – Ontario (CTHS), the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protection Association (HBPA), Fort Erie Racetrack, Woodbine Racetrack, and Ontario Racing, to review and propose a budget. The recommended budget was submitted to the OR Board, who approved the 2018-19 TIP Program.
How were the cuts decided?
The approach of the Working Group was to identify priority programs -- Breeders Awards and Restricted Overnight Purses -– and to limit reductions to them. Cuts were focused on non-priority programs and administration, and the remaining programs were reduced on an even basis.
(Ontario Racing)