Four days after desperately trying to present its case for allowing the last 12 days of the Woodbine racing season to continue, Woodbine Entertainment and the Ontario Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association have yet to hear a response from the Ontario Government or the Health Minister.
The Toronto and Peel lockdown announced Friday began Monday morning at 12:01 a.m., a 28-day (a least) shutdown of most businesses, mostly small, in an attempt to slow the growing number of COVID-19 positive tests.
Seemingly lost in the shuffle is the Woodbine Thoroughbred racing season, already down by 30 days in 2020, and just 12 days shy of its final racing card.
Horse racing appeared on the lockdown list on the website of the Ontario government, allowing for “training only”, which is nonsensical since the same people who are training the horses take them to the track to race. There have been no fans and very limited owners allowed this year on-site.
Twelve days of racing is at least 120 opportunities (assuming a 10 race card) for grooms, trainers, owners and jockeys, etc. to make a few more bucks to make it through the winter.
Jim Lawson, Woodbine CEO, was interviewed for a story in the Toronto Sun where he noted the economic loss this will create:
“We’re going to be losing over $50 million wagering revenue (by being forced to close three weeks early),” said Lawson. “And the horse people will be down $5.2 million in purses, which they desperately need to get them through the winter. I don’t think (the province) appreciates the magnitude of that loss of jobs.”
He went on to say that:
“That would be tantamount to the provincial government shutting down the Ford plant in Oakville, with the loss of 3,000 jobs, and not even talking to Ford in advance.”
He has noted that no one has responded to urgent queries.
The HBPA under president Sue Leslie sent out a memo to members late Monday evening stating it continues to try and make contact with the government but, again, no one has responded.
Meanwhile, horses are appearing on websites for sale and owners and trainers, the majority of which have less than 10 horses, were depending on the last 12 racing dates to pay bills. These owners and trainers employ people and help build up an already battered industry that has been working towards sustainability since the provincial government (Liberal) cancelled the slots at racetracks program.
Horsepeople have been flooding government email boxes, tweeting and calling and yet, incredibly, the government has been silent.
Meanwhile the GTA and the province will soon glean plenty of reward when the construction of a hotel and other attractions is completed on the Woodbine site – construction that the racing season has had to work around throughout the year.
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