30/ SEPTEMBER 2012 THE RIDER


Q.R.O.O.I: 11 Harwood Avenue South, Suite 202, Ajax Ontario L1S 2B9 Telephone: (905) 426-7050 • Fax: (905) 426-7093 Email: qrooiheadoffice@gmail.com


www.qrooi.com By Rik Hudson.


August was a busy month for the Ontario Quarter Horse racing industry. In addition to our regular offering of the fastest horses on the track, var- ied events attracted a steadily growing audience to the Quarter Brand.


PRESIDENT


Bob Broadstock 18101 Cedardale Road, Nestleton, Ontario L0B 1L0 (905) 986-0044


email: bob_broadstock@hotmail.com QROOI News September 2012


Man – Corona Deluxe by Coro- na Cartel) took the Adequan Ajax Downs Derby Challenge. This will be the second consecu- tive year Trainer Greg Watson takes an entry to a Challenge Final! Helen Vanek convinc- ingly rode the winner.


August saw Ontario’s Quarter Horse Racing step into the spot-light with an incredible day of racing on August 28th. As a featured track on the TVG Network, Ajax provided an exciting card that included the inaugural running of the Ade- quan Ajax Downs Derby Chal- lenge and the John Deere Juve- nile Challenge. These two races are Regional Qualifiers for the AQHA Challenge.


The Lucas Racing, Inc. entry “Country Boy Deluxe” a Sorrel Gelding (Country Chicks


“Rogue County” (Kipas Special – Royal Stakes Quick by Royal Quick Dash) a black Gelding, made the trip from Oregon a successful one for Owner Cedar Creek Tree Farm Ranch and Racing & Trainer Cedric Hayden by winning the John Deere Ajax Downs Juve- nile Challenge. Jockey Brian Bell was up for this impressive win.


Quarter Horse Racing con- cludes the 2012 season at Ajax Downs at the end of September and rounds out the year at Fort Erie with six days in October. Both Quarter Horse only days and Quarter Horse/Thorough- bred mixed days are scheduled in October at “the Fort.”


Congratulations to both and best of luck in the final. We look forward to hearing good news after the Challenge Final in Idaho.


As the Ontario racing scene continues to be worn down by the actions of our cur- rent government, QROOI has initiated a “Forward Planning Project.” The Project’s Steering Committee includes a wide vari- ety of persons who have been involved with Quarter Horse Racing in a variety of capacities over many years. Included in this group are trainers, breeders, owners – partnerships and indi- viduals, administration, and track management. The goal of this committee is to review and


VICE-PRESIDENT


Erik Lehtinen RR #2,


Uxbridge, ON L9P 1R2


(905) 852-5245


Greg Watson 785 Hwy 7A,


Bethany, ON L0A 1A0 (705) 277-0248


Doug Cheetham


32 Talbot St., Brampton, ON L6X 2P5 (905) 796-9640


analyze the current situation using a 50,000 foot planning paradigm. The project’s work continues to be some what fluid as the racing landscape contin- ues to change.


René Hunderup


P.O. Box 310, Station Main, King City, ON L7B 1A6 (905) 886-7886


Steve Hunter


231485 County Road 24, Grand Valley, Ontario L6X 2P5 • (519) 928-5209


Each member of the Steer- ing Committee brings their par- ticular skill set to the advantage of the overall project. These skills come from varied careers in business, planning and man- agement and associated histories in racing. The Ontario Quarter Horse Racing Industry Develop- ment Program forms the basis for this committee’s work; how- ever, as new developments are exposed, this group focus is required to change “on the fly.” The general Quarter Horse pop- ulation have been asked to par- ticipate in this process by com- pleting online surveys and pro- vide written submission to the Committee.


It is understood the Quarter Horse – and other breed – rac-


ing industry and business is being changed dramatically. The manner the industry con- ducts its business in handling this change will define how it moves into the future. With its Forward Planning Project, Ontario’s Quarter Horse Racing Community – guided by its facilitators – Strategic Equine – intends to affect a plan that ensure Quarter Horse Racing survives and thrives while pro- viding continuing contribution to the province’s economy. The horse racing scene continues to be reshaped as the Ontario Government redefines the place it sees racing has with- in Ontario’s economy. The Racing Industry has worked tirelessly to prove its value and benefit to the province’s econo- my. Largely based in rural Ontario, this industry provides much needed jobs and economic stimulus throughout the province. These are challenging


The Trifecta - The Confederation Cup, Charles Juravinski and Ontario Horse Racing


On Sunday Aug 12th, it was Michaels Power who was named winner of the 36th edi- tion of the $581,500 Confedera- tion Cup at Flamboro Downs. It was a thrilling three-horse photo finish for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Casie Coleman. Dynam- ic Youth and Andrew McCarthy surged home from the back of the pack, but at the wire they were a bit short and ended in second, forcing Pet Rock to set- tle for third. I Found My Beach was fourth and Warrawee Needy took the final cheque at 5th.


During the day’s festivities and between races, Charles Juravinski, founder of the Flam- borough Downs delivered a short speech to a packed crowd,


he addressed the “plight of the industry” and expressed the


“hope that this won’t be the last confederation cup held at Flam- borough”. On this day, he was definitely preaching to the choir. During a recent interview with Norm Borg of Trot Radio, Charles gives his take on how the slots-at-racetracks situation should be handled. He says, “Twelve years ago, the Ontario Racing Horse Industry Associa- tion was formed to provide a single voice for horse racing, and they should be the voice now.” He believes the govern- ment should sit down with the ORHIA to make changes to the original agreement rather than scrapping the whole thing. “The current agreement of a 20% share for track owners and horse people should be renegotiated and might end up being maybe half of what it has been. The tracks have been making enough money that they


should be debt free at this time and can afford to bring in less money for now. As an operator, I would rather have half a full glass than a whole empty glass.” Juravinski also feels that the government should set up four different types of site-hold- er’s agreements with tracks since a one-size-fits-all model can’t apply effectively to all Ontario’s track operators. The four types would include. 1) Pri- vately owned tracks who pay income and property taxes etc. 2) Not-for-profit tracks owned by Agricultural Societies because some don’t pay taxes and may benefit from provincial and federal grants. 3) Public owned companies like Great Canadian Gaming who have shareholders who require pay- ment of dividends. 4) WEG, considered the best racing/slots market in North America and who have an advantage due to their size, financial backing, and added income from off track & phone betting.


Two other ingredients needed for a successful agree- ment he says are total trans- parency and yearly audited financial statements from each of the tracks. They can try it on for size for five years and let the industry sort itself out.”


the right idea. He certainly has a long successful career in horse racing to back him up. In 1975, he opened Flamborough Downs which was immediately popular and was profitable. Over three decades, Charles became as well


Juravinski may just have


times for all involved in the rac- ing business – and make no mis- take – racing is business – big business! How we conduct our- selves now will form racing’s future.


On a more upbeat note, the QROOI Annual Awards Ban- quet is scheduled for November 24th. It will take place at the Ajax Conference Centre, 550 Beck Cres., Ajax. Cocktails will be at 6:00pm, Dinner at 7:00pm. Awards and dancing follow dinner. This is always a great night for the Quarter Horse Racing Community. Tickets are $80.00 (HST includ- ed) and can be redeemed for a $20.00 rebate on your 2013 QROOI membership – so be sure to keep your ticket stub for 2013. Ticket information can be found on www.qrooi.com or by calling the office at 905-426- 7050.


Brian Farell


C2130 - Hwy #7, RR #1, Sunderland, ON L0C 1H0 (705) 357-3214


known as the track and the annual Confederation Cup he was associated with. He owned a number of great horses, including two Hall of Famers — Matts Scooter and his beloved homebred mare, Ellamony. The track was sold in 2002 and later resold to Great Canadian Gam- ing Corp. He and his wife Mar- garet have donated $53 million to Hamilton Health Sciences, including a recent gift of $10 million for a new mental health facility which will be called the Margaret and Charles Juravinski Centre for Integrated Health- care.


On August 16th, the 82 year old Juravinski was hon- oured by being one of ten inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame after a long career. Afterwards,


Juravinski said, “I want to thank the nominating committee and the election committee. Some- one said it was a longtime com- ing, but I just think to myself how a kid growing up in Blaine, Saskatchewan ended up on this podium being inducted to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Just think of the impact of that on somebody like myself. It’s unbelievable. Thank you.” And with that, he gave his third HOF ring, to his wife Mar- garet.


Left: Charles and Margaret Juravinski at his induction to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Photo by The Rider. Above: Michaels Power, winner of 2012 Confederation Cup at Flamborough Downs, photo by Racehorsephoto.com


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