JULY 2012 THE RIDER /31
Report Shows the Financial Benefits of Fort Erie Racetrack
by Kelly Bowers
Excerpts from The Niagara Farmer’s Monthly, June by James Culic The Economic Development and Tourism Corporation recently released a report detailing exactly what is at stake if the Fort Erie Race- track closes. It was revealed that the area horse industry provides enor- mous financial benefits to the local community. This observation is sup- ported and felt in communities all across Ontario as each track reflects on their past while considering their future and the future of all horse racing in the province.
“In anticipation of and in preparation for, the loss of slots and track at Fort Erie, we (EDTC) utilized the Province’s economic modeling pro- gram to determine, what the impacts are from the Fort Erie Racetrack,” responded EDTC G.M. Jim Thibert. The EDTC used the Ontario Tourism Regional Economic Impact Model, required by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, to determine the financial impact of Fort Erie Race Track. The report found that in the three years since the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium has been running the track, over $221 million and 800 full-time equivalent jobs have been realized
The report indicates that the financial impact of the horses alone has been worth $51 million to the Niagara Region. The FELRC esti- mates about 700 horses on the backstretch at any given time, which costs about $70 per day to board each horse for the 206 days of the race season. This totals over $10 million spent in the area every year just to keep the horses fed and groomed.
Fort Erie’s Mayor, Doug Martin stated that at an upcoming meet- ing, he will be showing the document to tourism minister Michael Chan, to demonstrate how much will be lost if the track closes. Race supporters wish him luck.
My Ontario Includes Horse Racing... Does Yours?
By Diane Graham, OEF Exectutive Director
The 10 million does not even include other costs horse owners incur throughout the year such as veterinarian, tack, supplements, farri- er, advertising, photographer, breeding, fencing, building, travel, trucks and trailers, gas, real estate and more.
Photo courtesy of David Reid,
www.DRPhotos.ca
There has been much written regard- ing the plight of the horse racing industry in Ontario since the Drummond report announcement, including the OEF response “Silence is Not an Option.” Every affected professional group, asso- ciation and municipality has voiced its concern regarding the far reaching ramifi- cations from the loss of slot machine rev- enue and its effects on the continued via- bility for racing in this province. You may be asking, “How does this possibly affect me? I have nothing to do with racing. I have never even been to a racetrack. I have other things to do and I am busy.” Perhaps even, “Stop bugging me about this, I have heard enough already” or “Doesn’t the OEF have better things to do with its time?” It is critical we take notice of this issue; there will be no second chances. Put very simply, we are an industry on the verge of crisis. The horse racing industry has pro- vided equestrian sport with a great many of the benefits and services to which it has become accustomed. If the racing sector was to disappear, the worldclass standards that the sport horse community now enjoys will over time cease to exist. The quality and availability of feed sup- pliers, farriers, veterinary services, equine education, including extensive horse wel- fare research would not continue to be offered in Ontario. Independent product development and innovation are strong and available at an affordable cost and we have access to some of the best equine knowledge and facilities in the world because of racing. Benevolent programs, such as therapeutic riding, will suffer deeply without the large monetary dona- tions racing has provided. Additionally, it is racing that is responsible for funding the multi-million dollar facility expan- sions at the University of Guelph and the
multitude of private veterinarian clinics throughout the province. Sport and recre- ation are benefactors of both the racing industry’s desire for excellence and edu- cation. Are we not all better because of it?
excess of 60,000 people stand to loose their jobs.
What will happen to your hay bills if farmers lose a significant portion of their market? Farmers have reported to me of losing individual hay orders of over $10,000. What about your veterinarian who cannot make ends meet in Ontario? A veterinarian specialist told me last week that their business is already down over 25%. What about the farrier, the commercial shipping company, the local car dealership and the barn builder to name just a few? What will happen when your horse is sick and there is no help for him because there was no funding for the research that could have helped him? What about all the people who will lose their way of life or the thousands of hors- es that will most certainly be destined for slaughter? One veterinarian asked me “Do we have to show this government a pit filled with euthanized horses before they will listen? Do we have to relegate decent hard working people whom have been tax paying citizens all their lives to becoming welfare recipients? Does any of this bother you?“
The OEF was forced to shelve a horse welfare program that took a great deal of time and effort to develop because the racing industry was no longer in a financial position to fund it. This program could have had an impact on hundreds and over time thousands of horses. What does the future hold for these horses now? Tragically, this is just the begin- ning. Hundreds of breedings have been cancelled, tractor orders halted, new barn buildings ceased. I have reports of abat- toirs doubling the size of their holding pens in Quebec. Over 20,000 horses in this province are now vulnerable and in
Our ability to mobilize will deter- mine the legacy we leave for the next generation. Ontario has a breeding and racing program that has become one of the most successful and envied in the world. This has not been a subsidy pro- gram but a payment for services rendered and has resulted in the stimulation and successful rebirth of many of Ontario’s rural communities. What has taken life- times to develop and cultivate will be decimated. Your actions regarding this issue could impact the future of the horse industry in Ontario.
We could place blame here on how and why the industry got to this place and whom allowed it to happen. The time to answer those questions will come, but now the industry is in survival mode and they need our support. If sport and recre- ational horse owners as a group do noth- ing, we play right into this government’s hands because that’s what they are expecting. Let’s change the play! I chal- lenge each and every one of you to create some noise and “be the difference”! Contact your local MPP and let them know what you think about this issue and the long-term impact it will have on the future of our sport and the livelihoods of those involved. You could also unite fellow horse owners in your area to organize a rally and have your voice heard.
My Ontario Includes Horse Rac- ing…Does Yours?
ence. Be heard. The future is now. Make a differ-
Ontario Equestrian Federation 1 West Pearce St., Suite 201, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3K3 P: (905) 709-6545, TF: 1-877-441-7112 E:
horse@horse.on.ca W:
www.horse.on.ca
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