On Tuesday, September 27, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario announced that it will be hosting a series of targeted, in-person stakeholder roundtables this fall. The roundtables will to further discuss proposals for reform and implementation details for the future of the regulation of horse racing in Ontario.
If you are interested in participating in a roundtable discussion, please respond directly to [email protected] by Tuesday, October 11, 2016. Include your name, email address or phone number, and industry affiliation (e.g. trainer – Standardbred, owner – Quarter Horse, breeder – Thoroughbred, driver, jockey, veterinarian, equine welfare representative, farrier).
In its release – the contents of which appear below – the AGCO has stated that it will aim to accommodate all requests for participation at the roundtables and will aspire to ensure a variety of voices are represented.
AGCO Consultation - Moving Ahead: Horse Racing Regulation in Ontario
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) would like to extend a thank you to members of the horse racing industry who dedicated their time, effort and energy to submit a response to the AGCO’s consultation paper, Moving Ahead: Horse Racing Regulation in Ontario.
The Moving Ahead: Horse Racing Regulation in Ontario consultation paper asked for ideas on steps the AGCO and industry can take to:
- Ensure fairness, safety and integrity in Ontario’s horse racing industry;
- Reduce the administrative burden and remove unnecessary barriers;
- Support economic development and industry innovation; and,
- Modernize the AGCO’s regulatory framework.
Over a six-week period, representatives from the AGCO visited eight different racetracks to answer questions about the initiative and encourage members of the industry to participate in the consultation. The AGCO visited Ajax Downs, Clinton Raceway, Fort Erie Race Track, Georgian Downs, Grand River Raceway, Mohawk Raceway, Rideau Carleton Raceway and Woodbine Racetrack. The response has been strong and the AGCO received over 60 comprehensive submissions, as well as 20 written comments. Verbal comments from in-person interactions were also recorded. The AGCO is carefully analyzing all of the written consultation feedback and ideas received from across the industry.
Next Steps
This fall, the AGCO will host a series of targeted in-person stakeholder roundtables, to further discuss proposals for reform and implementation details on a more in-depth basis. If you are interested in participating in a roundtable discussion please respond directly to [email protected] by Tuesday, October 11, 2016. Include your name, e-mail address or phone number, and industry affiliation (e.g. trainer- Standardbred, owner- Quarter Horse, breeder- Thoroughbred, driver, jockey, veterinarian, equine welfare representative, farrier). The AGCO will aim to accommodate all requests for participation at the roundtables and will aspire to ensure a variety of voices are represented.
Please note: It was brought to our attention that there were technical difficulties with the AGCO fax line during the submission period. If you attempted to send in a submission via fax that did not go through, please consider resending your submission to the AGCO’s main fax line: 416-326-5555. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
With thanks,
AGCO