The Ontario Legislature passed a motion to continue the Slots at Racetracks Program beyond the cancellation deadline imposed by the Liberals. In addition, the motion called for the suspension of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s gaming modernization plan until municipal referendums can be held in 2014. The motion, put forward by Essex MPP Tara Natyshak, received […]

When the government announced the end of the Slots-At-Racetracks program they noted it was part of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s Modernization Strategy. Part of that strategy includes the OLG’s Charitable Bingo and Gaming Revitalization Initiative which they note includes “new products and technologies – like electronic bingo and other games – to invigorate […]

Up to 338 acres in Fort Erie, Ontario, 100 acres of which used to be Fort Erie Race Track is for sale

Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association president, Sue Leslie, was Norm Borg’s guest, on November 1st, for a special edition podcast of At the Gate, Racing at the Crossroads. Leslie expressed her thoughts and concerns on the recent release of the Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel’s final report. First and foremost, regarding the Sustainable Horse Racing […]

The three member Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel has submitted their final report to the Honourable Ted McMeekin, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The prorogation of parliament will not affect the discharge of the report and its recommendations which is anticipated to be officially released by the end of the month. In an […]

The Ontario Equestrian Federation has issued a thank you letter to MPP Lisa MacLeod, on behalf of Ontario’s equine community, for calling on the Auditor General to review the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s plans and its impact on the horse racing industry. Read the letter here.

Supporters of the Ontario horse racing industry are encouraged to attend a rally on August 30th led by Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod at Queen’s Park in Toronto. MPP MacLeod has strongly opposed the elimination of the slots at racetracks program and has spoken out passionately in support of the horse racing industry and rural Ontario, […]

With the demise of the slots at racetracks program, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) announced their “Modernization Strategy” for gaming in the province. Their goal is to bring gaming and entertainment together on a larger scale at multiple locations to boost revenue. As such, they have begun a Request For Proposal process to […]

Since the Ontario government’s announcement regarding the termination of the Slots At Racetracks (SAR) Program I have been in personal contact with many of our members and would like to thank those of whom I have spoken with for expressing your views and for your support during these challenging times. For the past three months […]

In June, RacingFuture.com sent an open letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty regarding the end of the slots-at-racetracks program – http://www.horse-canada.com/horse-news/racingfuture-com-sends-open-letter-to-premier/ Read the Premier’s response here.

Ontario Conservative Senator Bob Runciman will carry his fight against the McGuinty government’s plans to throw at least 30,000 Ontarians out of work to Georgian Downs in Innisfil later this month. Runciman will be at the harness-racing track along with Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop to draw attention to the negative economic impacts and significant […]

Open Letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty from RacingFuture.com Dear Premier McGuinty, Your government has announced that it will pull its slot machines from Ontario race tracks, abruptly canceling a 14-year partnership that has been helping our province’s horse breeding and racing industry to make the transition from the 20th Century to the 21st. I am […]

The Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA) was granted deputation in front of Ontario’s Standing Committee of Finance and Economic Affairs on June 6th, where they presented a submission, which is available here. The charts contained on pages 6- 8 peaked the interest of the committee.  The charts indicate that the Slots at Racetracks Program […]

In light of the government’s announcement to terminate the existing Slots at Racetracks Program, the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA) has struck a Task Force to develop a plan and enter into a dialogue with government that will result in a viable and successful horse racing and breeding industry in Ontario. The Task Force […]

Ed James, owner of SSG Gloves, and the leading Standardbred owner at Grand River Raceway for 2011, took out a full-page ad in Monday’s edition of the Toronto Star, questioning the recent attack on the horse racing industry by the Liberal government and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. The ad, asking Ontarians to examine […]