Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Liberal Party respond to the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association questionnaire:
Q: In their 2013 report, the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel stated: “…one of the most important aspects of integration: [is] the use of racetracks as gaming centres. Ontario communities support enhanced gaming opportunities at tracks, and new gaming products can be added to existing facilities quickly and at relatively low capital cost. The panel believes that tapping the potential of racetracks as gaming centres should be a top priority in the integration of horse racing into the provincial gaming strategy.”
Do you agree with this statement and will you support racetracks as sites for expanded gaming centres?
A: Yes. Since becoming Premier and taking on the additional portfolio of Minister of Agriculture and Food, Premier Wynne has worked closely with the Transition Panel in implementing the recommendations of their report. Ontario Liberals remain committed to creating a sustainable future for the industry through three basic pillars of our Ontario Horse Racing Partnership Plan:
• a new industry governance structure;
• a five year, $500-million commitment to stabilize the industry and provide an environment that supports opportunities for growth; and
• integrating horse racing into the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission’s modernization plan, which includes developing new horse racing-themed gaming products in partnership with the OLG and priority consideration of horse racing in the land-based gaming modernization process.
The Wynne government has a plan to ensure that Ontario’s rich history of horse racing endures for many seasons to come.
Q: Do you think integrating horse racing, and specifically racetracks, into the OLG’s Modernization Strategy is the best option to maintain a sustainable horse racing industry? If not, what do you think is the best option?
A: Yes, integrating racetracks into the OLG Modernization strategy is an essential part of the Wynne government’s commitment to supporting world-class horse racing in the province. Ontario Liberals remain committed to ensuring that the OLG is provided clear direction to share its business, marketing, and responsible gambling expertise in support of horse racing; work with the industry in marketing horse racing and enhancing the on-track experience; collaborate on new horse racing-themed lottery products to generate additional revenue streams; and optimize the use of racetrack infrastructure as multi-gaming sites.
Other key components of the Ontario Horse Racing Partnership Plan include an innovative, unparalleled alliance of standardbred tracks to provide a solid foundation for Ontario Standardbred owners, breeders, and horse persons; increased funding for purses and operational support for regional tracks to give operators the tools to develop new sources of revenue and build business relationships that will support a sustainable horse racing industry in Ontario; an enhanced Horse Improvement Program to provide incentives to Ontario bred and sired horses racing in their home province; and measures to ensure that racehorses are treated humanely both while they are racing and after retirement.
In combination, the elements listed above — including integration — represent a detailed plan by Ontario Liberals to support a commercially viable model of world class Standardbred, Thoroughbred, and Quarter Horse racing, while encouraging the industry to become more consumer-oriented and grow its fan base and wagering revenues.
Q: As a way of ensuring that HORSERACING remain sustainable, do you agree that racetracks should have the first right of refusal to host a new casino before building new casinos in the same region?
A: The Wynne government recognizes that the integration of racetracks into the OLG modernization strategy is critical to the sustainability of the horse racing industry. That is why Ontario Liberals feel that it’s essential that the OLG’s competitive procurement process for gaming site service providers be weighted to recognize the value of horse racing.
Future gaming site procurement documents will also contain criteria related to horse racing. While Ontario Liberals believe that racetracks should be given priority consideration in the placement of new casinos, these are discussions that require input from municipal authorities to ensure that the unique circumstances of each community receive careful, local consideration.
Q: Do you believe the horse racing industry is economically important for the province and would provide a better opportunity for increasing gaming revenue for the province than building new casinos?
A: Ontario Liberals recognize the economic value of horse racing, which is why since assuming office, Premier Wynne has worked towards swift implementation of the Ontario Horse Racing Partnership Plan and the three pillars identified above. Re-orienting the industry to be more customer-focused is part of that plan. Increased gaming revenue for horse racing is an essential feature of the plan, which can be accomplished through the following:
• ensure that gaming modernization will incorporate applicable racetracks into the gaming strategy beyond a five year horizon;
• identify the gaming products that will be made available to the racing industry and establish definitive targets for revenue growth from racing-related products such as non-parimutuel wagering and single sport wagering products; and
• implement a coordinated, integrated OLG/OHR marketing strategy that attract new racing fans.
As indicated above, Ontario Liberals remain committed to ensuring that the OLG is provided clear direction to share its business, marketing, and responsible gambling expertise in support of horse racing; work with the industry in marketing horse racing and enhancing the on-track experience; collaborate on new horse racing-themed lottery products to generate additional revenue streams; and optimize the use of racetrack infrastructure as multi-gaming sites.
In her report, the Auditor General noted that under SARP: “owners grew reliant on their growing slots revenue share just to sustain their horse-racing operations”. The Ontario Liberal Party commits to providing the appropriate public support needed to maintain a foundation for racing, and more importantly, it provides the industry with opportunities for growth.
The PCs and the NDP would have the industry go backwards. The future of the industry – here and across North America – is in looking forward and building a new fan base for the sport.
Q: Do you believe a revenue sharing partnership is the best way to ensure long-term support and viability of horse racing in Ontario? If not, what do you believe is a better option?
A; An integral part of horse racing integration into OLG modernization is consideration of an alignment of incentives between industry and the OLG to ensure that the proceeds of integration benefit the horse race industry. I am committed to working with OHRIA, race tracks and the OLG to further develop a model and targets for revenue growth that would further support the long-term viability of horse racing in Ontario.
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