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MARCH/APRIL 2012 THE RIDER /43


Time to Check Your Facts Mr. Duncan: Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association Says


Toronto - Finance Minister Dwight Dun- can provided an emailed statement to the Windsor Star on Wednesday March 7, 2012, regarding the OLG Slots at Race- track program that contained a number of inaccurate statements.


“Since 1998 the horse racing industry has received $3.4 billion in government support, including $345 million last year alone. That’s more money than we spend on water and road safety and more than 10 times the amount the governments of Alberta, B.C. and Manitoba provide to their horse racing industries combined. We


2012 Quarter Horse Racing Industry


Development Program Updates


Toronto, ON - The Ontario Quarter Horse Racing Industry Development Program has published the 2012 Pro- gram Criteria Book which provides the specific details for the suite of Quarter Horse Programs worth over $8 million in 2012. The criteria book is now available on-line and has now been mailed to all persons licensed by the Ontario Racing Commission for Quarter Horse racing in 2011.


2012 Program Highlights


– Introduction of the $100,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Derby


Purse Bonus – Increase in the Ontario Bred


– Increase in the Restricted Rac- ing Purse Supplement


tive Program – Introduction of the Sale Incen-


– Introduction of the Industry Project Fund to support funding for industry stakeholder initiatives that support the goals and objectives of the Program


2012 Stallion List


The list of Ontario Accredited Stal- lions for the 2012 Quarter Horse breeding season is now available and will be updated from time to time with the addition of new stallions. This list may be viewed at http://www.ontarioracingcommis- sion.ca/industry_programs.aspx?id=3 82#2008_Ontario_Stallions .


The Ontario Quarter Horse Rac- ing Industry Development Program was developed by the Ontario Racing Commission with the cooperation from the horse industry to support development of a strong and sustain- able Quarter Horse racing industry in Ontario. Specifically, the Program’s main objectives are to achieve mea- sured, balanced growth for the sector and to improve the quantity and qual- ity of Ontario-bred racing stock active in Quarter Horse racing in Ontario. Program criteria and all required forms for 2012 may be accessed from the Featured Showcase section on the home page of the Ontario Racing Commission website at: www.ontari- oracingcommission.ca. Information may also be obtained from the Quar- ter Racing Owners of Ontario Inc. (QROOI) website at www.qrooi.com or by contacting the Program Coordi- nator at 416-213-0520 or qhpro- gram@ontarioracingcommission.ca


as a government need to be account- able to the taxpayer and decide whether or not we’re spending their hard-earned dollars wisely. The review of the slots at racetrack pro- gram will help us to do just that.”


http://www.windsorstar.com/sports/W indsor+Essex+County+horse+rac- ing+industry+wary/6268576/story.ht ml#ixzz1oYcUU6HT


Minister Duncan claims the horse racing industry has received “gov- ernment support”.


Fact Check: The horse racing indus- try has received no government sup- port, but has received it’s share of rev-


enue generated from OLG Slot machines at private racetracks in Ontario as part of a revenue sharing agreement with OLG.


Minister Duncan claims Ontario provides “more than 10 times the amount the governments of Alber- ta, B.C. and Manitoba provide to their horse racing industries com- bined.”


Fact Check: Alberta provides 67% of revenue generated by slots at race- tracks to their horse-racing industry, while Manitoba provides 100% of revenue from slots at racetracks to their horse-racing industry. By com- parison, Ontario provides just 20% to


our horse-racing industry.


Minister Duncan claims tax dollars are being spent on horse racing in Ontario. “We as a government need to be accountable to the taxpayer and decide whether or not we’re spending their hard-earned dollars wisely.”


Fact Check: The OLG Slots at Race- track Program is not a taxpayer sub- sidy. It contributes $1.1 billion dollars of profit to the Government of Ontario and provides taxpayers with $1.1 billion dollars worth of health- care funding that does not come from tax revenue.


“We would hope the Finance Minister would stick to the facts when discussing the merits of the OLG Slots at Racetrack Program, because the facts demonstrate this is an excel- lent value for money,” said Sue Leslie, President of the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA).


OHRIA has launched a website http://value4money.ca to allow Ontar- ians to write members of Provincial Parliament to show their support for the horse racing and breeding industry in Ontario.


For More Information: Sue Leslie - President, OHRIA 416 679 0741 ohria@ohria.com


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