“Horse racing is a well-established industry in Manitoba that provides province-wide economic benefit and entertainment opportunities,” said Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler in a provincial release. “While the industry has faced financial challenges, our government wants to find a sustainable future for horse racing in Manitoba. It is our hope that this external review will reveal new opportunities for growth and long-term sustainability.”
According to the release, a full operational review will include stakeholders, potential synergies and other investors, alternative models, economic impacts, governance models, risk analysis and a detailed recommendation for a financially sustainable model.
“Our expectation is that the study will continue to clearly show that economic contributions to the provincial economy from racing are very significant,” offered Darren Dunn, CEO of Assiniboia Downs. “As an agri-business, major employer and an industry that attracts a large amount of tourist and non-resident horsemen dollars to Manitoba, our ability to create increased tax revenue for the province will only be enhanced with new strategic opportunities for growth.”