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Horse racing could return June 2

Sudbury Downs has signed a tentative agreement with the province that would allow horse racing to begin in June, although with a drastically shorted schedule.
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Sudbury Downs has signed a tentative agreement with the province that would allow horse racing to begin in June, although with a drastically shorted schedule. File photo.

Sudbury Downs has signed a tentative agreement with the province that would allow horse racing to begin in June, although with a drastically shorted schedule.

A spokesperson for Premier Kathleen Wynne, who’s also the minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, confirmed the agreement in an email Monday.

“There is now a transition funding agreement in principle with Sudbury Downs,” wrote Gabrielle Gallant, Wynne’s press secretary. “However, details of the agreement will not be released at this time, so as not to influence ongoing discussions with other tracks.

“Once all negotiations have concluded, the financial details of all transition agreements will be released publicly. There are now 11 tracks with agreements or agreements in principle.”

Susan Murray, a spokesperson with communications branch of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, says the tentative deal with Sudbury is for one year, but the intent is to get racetracks to sign longer-term agreements.


“There are plans for additional negotiations,” Murray said Monday morning.

“It’s definitely a long-term strategy. The government is committed to the long-term sustainability of the industry.”

She said she had no idea when all the agreements would be finalized, or when details of the negotiations would be released. Under the tentative racing schedule posted on the Ontario Racing Commission’s website, Sudbury Downs would offer 20 racing days beginning Sunday, June 2, with races each Sunday until Oct. 13. Post-time would be 1:30 p.m.

Sudbury Downs owner Pat MacIsaac didn’t respond to calls before Northern Life’s press deadline. But in an interview March 8, MacIsaac said the province has sent signals it's willing to help racetracks. The province has set aside $30 million in 2013 to support racing. 

“There’s been some indication that (Wynne) has made some positive announcements,” MacIsaac said. “But I haven’t heard them or read them or seen them.”

Under the old deal, racetracks split revenue from gambling with the province and municipalities. However, last spring, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. announced an end to those agreements in favour of building full-fledged casinos in each of the dozens of gaming zones in the province, including five in Northern Ontario.

The loss of revenue meant an end to racing at most tracks, prompting talks on transitional funding to give the industry new life. 

On March 8, Wynne announced deals with Western Fair, Clinton, Hanover and Grand River race tracks, while agreements with Woodbine and Mohawk were announced in February.

Longer term, the province aims to “integrate horse racing with the provincial gaming strategy to ensure future revenue streams for the industry.”

“There is a genuine willingness within the industry to assume leadership to shape a new vision for the sector,” said John Snobelen, a member of the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel and a former provincial cabinet minister. “The panel will work with the sector to help it move toward a sound future.”

Talks continue on finalizing a lease agreement to allow the slots facility to continue, as well, MacIsaac said. While an agreement in principle is also in place, MacIsaac said there are still details to be worked out. 

“I’m neither optimistic nor pessimistic” about getting a deal done soon, head said. “We’re in the process of trying to get a deal on a couple of different levels that are not finalized. I really can’t comment on it beyond that.”


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Darren MacDonald

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