The Board of the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) has ordered a moratorium on all race date reductions. The effect of the moratorium is that racetracks will
conduct no fewer race dates in 2010 than they did in 2009.
Applications from racetracks for the 2010 racing season amounted to reductions of 150 days from those approved race days for 2009. Combined with the overall decline in race days since 2006, this current decrease in race dates would mean a return to 1998 levels.
Recognizing the reductions proposed for 2010, in combination with this 5-year trend, may have significant and permanent impact on the participants and the future of the horse racing industry in Ontario, the Board ordered the freeze.
“The seriousness of this situation requires a level of attention and investigation well beyond the normal race date process,” said Rod Seiling, Chair of the ORC. “The Board will be looking to receive an analysis of the issues and recommendations from the Executive Director.”
The ORC intends to conduct an in-depth analysis and evaluation of the impact of such a reduction, and will do so in consultation with the racing industry. Through a collaborative effort, it may be determined that a new approach to deciding race dates is required to better serve the interests of Ontario horse racing and the public. The moratorium is a temporary measure and will remain in place pending completion of this evaluation.
Racetrack operators have been advised of the moratorium and will be required to resubmit their race date applications by October 21, 2009. Applications may include changes in schedule but must include the same quantum number of days as approved in 2009. For the purposes of scheduling, Woodbine and Mohawk Racetracks will be considered one track.
The Executive Director will call on industry representatives and members of the racing community to assist him in this initiative. The goal is that, by working together, the number of race dates in the province can be optimized, at a level that provides sufficient racing opportunities to support a sustainable industry, and offer a reasonable rate of return for the businesses which showcase racing.
As well, the initiative will focus on the need to deliver a quality product that is entertaining for the customer and provide a framework for moving forward and some certainty of the future for the many affected parties.
The policy directive is available in its entirety on the ORC website.
(ORC)
Can sombody tell me when was
Can sombody tell me when was the last time racetracks in Ontario requested increases in race dates?? From the day of "Slots"the racetracks DO NOT WANT HORSE RACING!Less race dates better $ bottom line.The sad part is that ORC in concert with OLG stould by and did nothing. Is it possible that ORC realized by doing nothing , Standardbred racing in Ontario will slowly be gone?? . At this time Ontario Racing is on life support in a critical state.
Finally good move ORC. Congradulation for now!!! To all horsemen stay united. You know what happened in Quebec.
Darko Vukovic
A line in the sand. The
A line in the sand.
The ORC (and our provincial politicians) seem increasingly aware there are 65,000 racing related jobs in Ontario.
Given our unemployment woes, one hopes they realize the need to keep this business -- and those 65,000 jobs -- alive.
Jeopardizing 65,000 jobs would be the same as closing down 30 auto plants, or the entire Ontario Public Sector.
To frame it in financial terms, 65,000 jobs would represent close to $30 million a week in unemployment payments.
Last year the OLC subsidized race purses in Ontario by just under $170 million (another $170 million went to the track operators).
Do the math and you will quickly realize the yearly purse subsidy is less than six weeks of unemployment payments if the industry were to collapse.
There is no economic incentive to kill the purse subsidies, and by extension, no incentive to reduce race dates. These two issues are one when it comes to maintaining current employment levels. Reduce race dates and/or purse subsidies and you ultimately reduce jobs related to the racing industry.
The ORC has drawn a line in the sand for 2010. Lets hope they can stay the course for the foreseeable future.
Cam McKnight
I would like to commend all
I would like to commend all of the OHHA members who made the investment of time to send emails, letters, faxes, phone calls, etc. to our elected representatives over the past few weeks. The feedback at the office has been great and I have been in contact with many of the elected officials you have contacted. Over the past several weeks OHHA and our request for support and recognition of Ontario’s Standardbred participants have been reflected in the Hansard of the provincial parliament and we have made many trips to the offices of our elected officials at Queens Park.
Our message is getting through as we often find the MPP's and their staff is aware of our issues and are asking us more specific and detailed questions. I would ask that you continue to educate those who represent us and let them know that the status quo is not acceptable. The largest investment in our game is made by Horsepeople...the most risk is taken by Horsepeople...and yet we continue to be under siege when it comes to our ability to make a living. We can all see what has happened in a few shorts years to the once great racing industry in Quebec...how many breeders in Ontario could wind up their operations and find a new way to make a living with a $50,000 buyout?
The slots will continue to ring in Quebec...not for horsepeople though and it could happen here too if we let our "partners" speak for us and we lose control of our resources and our ability to organize the will of all Horsepeople from across the province.
In closing, we need to educate our colleagues and proudly represent Horsepeoples interests on those occasions we may disagree with what a racetrack operator or our regulator may recommend as a solution. That is the democratic process, a process that makes our Country the greatest place to live on Earth.
Darryl MacArthur
President
OHHA
Finally, The ORC is taking
Finally, The ORC is taking the initative to let the tracks and horsemen know that they are in charge of racetracks in Ontario. I think is is now time for all tracks and horsemen to come together and work for the betterment of our industry. Instead of individual tracks deciding what is best for them, all participants should come together to get what is best for the industry as a whole. Plans for dates should work in conjuntion with each other; racing 6 Ontario tracks on one night and only 1 on another is not good for our industry at home. Caps should be placed on "B" tracks so local participants can race for half decent money, instead of having a super star horse come from the "A" track to have a training mile and be paid for it. The local participants are then going for less money as they are racing for 2nd money. The time has come to put differences aside and work for the betterment of the industry and not for individual agendas
Well done ORC! The reason
Well done ORC! The reason these tracks have a casino is because of horse racing. Casino's were put in place to help horseracing, not just put money into gaming company coffers.
New thinking may be what is
New thinking may be what is required.
“The seriousness of this situation requires a level of attention and investigation well beyond the normal race date process,” said Rod Seiling, Chair of the ORC. “The Board will be looking to receive an analysis of the issues and recommendations from the Executive Director.”
My question might well be why hasn't there been an examination of the problems on an ongoing basis? Why the wait till the industry reaches this point? I am profoundly struck by what I would describe as a regulator that may well have been asleep at the switch for the last 10 years. What did this decision take queries from a few MPP's after hearing from various horsemens' groups. I thought you were an independent agency and could judge going forward what was right and wrong on an case by case basis. Just because you may not be willing to come to a decision on the merits of one racetracks proposed application containing major reductions does each and every other racetrack now have to put their plans on hold? This from an organization whose senior staff didn't have a clue that their employees (officials & office staff) were voting to join a union.
"The ORC intends to conduct an in-depth analysis and evaluation of the impact of such a reduction, and will do so in consultation with the racing industry. Through a collaborative effort, it may be determined that a new approach to deciding race dates is required to better serve the interests of Ontario horse racing and the public. The moratorium is a temporary measure and will remain in place pending completion of this evaluation."
Yes this should probably take what about a year or so as individuals and racetracks are trying to plan for their futures. Think many many meetings (long lunches) and highly paid consultants (think former ORC staff & board members) and what will be the result besides higher incomes & cholesterol counts.
"The Executive Director will call on industry representatives and members of the racing community to assist him in this initiative. The goal is that, by working together, the number of race dates in the province can be optimized, at a level that provides sufficient racing opportunities to support a sustainable industry, and offer a reasonable rate of return for the businesses which showcase racing."
So we will have numerous meetings etc.etc. to formulate a policy. My question is will this result be something a kin to the new urging rules solution.
Call me bitter, many do but I know that common sense has long since left this sport and every individual and participant is affected by these decisions or should I say lack of decisions.
sincerely,
david gilders
speaking as an individual on my own behalf