Based on a joint application from Hiawatha Horse Park and the Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA), the Implementation and Monitoring (IM) Group of the Ontario Racing Program approved a variance to upper level purse permitted for Hiawatha to $60,000
.
While the application had presented a case to conduct Signature level race programs on all Saturdays of their 2011 meet, meaning a purse range of $65,000 to $85,000, the IM Group did not agree that Hiawatha met the criteria for a Signature card, but did agree with some of the rationale provided and approved a variance, as follows:
The maximum purse level for one of Hiawatha’s cards per week is changed from $50,000 to $60,000 per race date for the duration of its 2011 racing meet.
The IM Group notes the following points which impacted on its decision:
• In accordance with Ontario Racing Program Implementation 1, Classification of Daily Racing Programs, a Signature card 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.
• The card being proposed by the application does not meet the criteria of a Signature card and more correctly meets the criteria of a Grassroots Card.
• In accordance with Ontario Racing Program Implementation 1, Daily Purse Levels‐ Minimum and Maximum, the total distribution of overnight purses on a daily basis for a Grassroots card must be within $40,000 and $50,000.
• Hiawatha is, however, isolated within its region during its racing meet and a variance to the purse levels would help sustain a viable and diversified regional horse population, as well as the local owners and breeders.
• It is recognized that Hiawatha faces unique challenges, due to its geographic location and distance from any other racetrack writing Signature cards.
• There are no racetracks in the Western Region writing Signatures cards during the period of May 1st to September 11th.
• A variance would provide some opportunities for horses and trainers from within the region, thereby reducing the financial burden or the physical toll of travel to a track offering Signature cards 3 hours away.
• Similar to the rationale for needing a balance of racing levels within a region in order to sustain a diversified horse population, sufficient qualifying opportunities are required within a region to ensure an appropriate supply of horses ready to enter to race.
• There is some interaction between Hiawatha and Dresden Raceways but this would not be increased by a variance, and may actually encourage some trainers to shift certain classes of horses to Dresden.
Included in its decision to allow the variance, the IM Group required Hiawatha to provide the following:
• A detailed marketing plan with specific budget information, to demonstrate future promotional plans to support the variance;
• A monthly report of the number of Horses Entered compared to Horses Raced, with comparisons to 2010;
• Sufficient qualifying races, as required to meet demand, as per Rule 12.01 of the Rules of Standardbred Racing.
Additionally, the IM Group encourages Hiawatha Horse Park to apply for additional increases in overnight purse money on special event days. The Ontario Racing Program envisioned special event days to be specific days throughout the season where the effort to promote around special stakes,
or other customer oriented activities aimed at increasing or promoting the customer experience and participation, would justify the increase in purse for that day.
Hiawatha Horse Park and OHHA are to be congratulated for the cooperative effort made in submitting their application and exploring the ways in which the Ontario Racing Program will work within their local region.
The mandate of the IM Group is to implement and monitor the elements of the Ontario Racing Program and to ensure the Program is flexible enough to change, where the need for change is demonstrated and determined to be warranted.
For more information, please contact:
Implementation and Monitoring Group
Wendy Hoogeveen, Industry Development and Support
Bill Fines, Mike Wilson, Rob McKay, Ryan Dupuis, Kerry Wright
(416) 213-0520
[email protected]
To view Hiawatha Horse Park’s application, click here.