ORC Outlines Ontario Racing Program Implementation

At its meeting of September 2010, the Board of the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) approved a Race Date Framework for Ontario introducing a new model for racing in the province

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Developed over a year in consultation with the industry, the Framework lays out the principles to guide how horse racing is conducted. The initial phase of the program called for the development of the 2011 race date schedule. This initial phase of the Program was completed and communicated in early December.

Phase II is currently ongoing and involves making changes to the technical elements of Standardbred racing, which includes, for example, changes that will affect how racing conditions are written. Over the past few months, the ORC Implementation and Monitoring Group has been working with industry participants, including a series of meetings with Race Secretaries, to review and fine tune changes to the Racing Program.

Implementation of the Standardbred portion of the Ontario Racing Program will be monitored closely over the next months and year to make sure they are helping to achieve the goals of the Framework. As with all aspects of the Racing Program, any new initiative will be reworked or modified if it is not positively affecting or supporting the Ontario Racing Program in the long term. The racing community is encouraged to contact the ORC Monitoring Group and/or the Director with opinions or details of their experiences with the new changes, both positive and negative.

Under direction by the Board of the ORC to implement the Ontario Race Date Framework, the following standards, to be effective immediately, will apply to the conduct of racing on approved race dates of each racetrack in Ontario, and all licensees are directed to comply with them accordingly.

1. Classification of Daily Racing Programs

Standardbred racing programs or cards for any approved race date will be classified in one of three ways as follows:

a) Grassroots means a community based racing card that is not normally simulcast, where the racetrack operation meets all requirements for its category under the Minimum Standards Program or as required by the implementation of the Ontario Racing Program.

b) Signature means a wagering customer focused racing card that is simulcast primarily for a domestic market and which serves as the undercard for any Premier card, where the racetrack operation meets all requirements for its category under the Minimum Standards Program or as required by the implementation of the Ontario Racing Program.

c) Premier means a wagering customer focused racing card of the highest quality of Ontario product that is simulcast for the domestic and international market, where the racetrack operation meets all requirements for its category under the Minimum Standards Program or as required by the implementation of the Ontario Racing Program.

This classification of racing is tied to a race date, not a racetrack. Racetrack operators can apply, or the Director may assign as part of the race date approval process, the category of card for any race date. A racetrack may operate different cards at different times of the season and/or week (Grassroots on Saturdays, Signature on Thursdays OR Grassroots in spring and Signature during the summer).

Where standards are associated with each level of classification (for example daily purse levels) the racetrack operator may apply for certain temporary or permanent exemptions, for special events or regional considerations.

It is expected that as the Ontario Racing Program develops, standards will continue to be established and communicated to the participants.

The strength of the Ontario racing industry builds from a broad base of horses, participants and customers that ultimately rise through the levels based on ability to support the top level of participation in the industry – the Premier level. The health of the entire industry is dependent on a strong and successful “flag ship”, that being a product that is strong, viable and sold both domestically and internationally.

It is for that reason that the concept is hierarchical, with a structure intended to support the racing objectives of the Premier product. The other levels of racing (Signature and Grassroots) have defined roles to play in the continued success of the province’s highest level of racing. The Premier product is reliant on a vibrant and healthy grassroots level, to be the feeder system of quality participants and horses that rise to the top as they develop. Similarly this model can be applied to the customers – exposure to the industry usually starts at an entertainment level, dinner at the races, going to see a friend’s horse race.

This evolves over time as interest grows, and the fan based customer shifts to become a horse player or a purchaser of horses. It is through this two-way symbiotic relationship that the Ontario industry as a whole will prosper. This relationship is best described as a pyramid as illustrated below:

2. Daily Purse Levels – Minimum and Maximum

The total distribution of daily purse for Standardbred racing must fall within the following ranges, dependent upon the classification of race program:

Race Program - Minimum Daily Purse - Maximum Daily Purse
Grassroots - $40,000 - $50,000
Signature - $65,000 - $85,000
Premier - $150,000 - No maximum

Added money or stakes events are not included in the calculation of daily purse. To calculate the allowable maximum Daily Purse Level on any day that includes stakes events, divide the maximum daily purse by 12 and multiply by the number of non-stakes races.

Any racetrack operator seeking to use more of the purse account than permitted for special event cards may do so through application to the Director, providing reasons that shall be guided by the Race Date Framework.

The intent of establishing daily purse levels is to create greater consistency across racetracks with similar operations and encouraging horses to be raced where they will have the greatest impact for the Ontario Racing Program.

3. Maximum number of races

The maximum number of races on any approved race date is 12. Any racetrack operator seeking to conduct more than 12 races per race date must make application to the Director providing reasons that shall be guided by the Race Date Framework. The intent of establishing a maximum number of races is to encourage full fields for the betting product.

Please be advised that further implementations with respect to other technical elements coming out of the Race Date Framework will be issued shortly.

(O.R.C.)