Following a public consultation process, the Director has issued a Notice of Decision to Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) approving their application to vary the approved 2012 Thoroughbred schedule.
The WEG application sought permission to maintain the August four days per week schedule ‐ Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday – through to the end of November, resulting in the cancellation of 11 Thursday afternoon cards.
Having reviewed the submissions received, having reviewed the position of the horsepeople who race at Woodbine as represented by the HPBA, having consulted with the industry at large, having received the recommendation from the Implementation and Monitoring Group, and having determined that the application is consistent with the principles of the Ontario Race Date Framework, the Director approved the application to vary the schedule.
The following impacted on the Director’s decision:
- The Thoroughbred purse account is projected to be $3.4 M overpaid by the end of the year 2012. Reducing the overpayment was the key driver in WEG’s application to reduce days.
- According to WEG’s submission, the purse account overpayment could have been dealt with in a number of ways: 1) by reducing race dates, 2) by reducing individual purse levels or, 3) through a combination of the first two. WEG’s decision to seek to reduce days to resolve the purse overpayment is based on its wish to maintain its brand and quality of racing and attract the top stables and top horses that build the product customers want and expect. Under the Ontario Racing Program this is in line with the requirements for a Premier product.
- It is projected by WEG that cancelling the 11 Thursdays will reduce purse overpayment to $0.2 M by year end.
- Before the application was submitted, WEG management consulted extensively with the HBPA, and the Director received a letter in support of the change from that association.
- The current uncertainty within the industry requires careful management of the purse accounts.
Please be advised that any aggrieved party has the right to appeal the Director’s decision to the Commission.
(ORC)