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ONTARIO GOVERNMENT WITHDRAWS
SUPPORT OF RACING INDUSTRY
(Carberry, MB -- March 21, 2012) -- The Ontario Lotteries & Gaming Commission (OLG) recently announced its intention to withdraw from existing revenue sharing agreements with 17 racetracks throughout Ontario. Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing stakeholders are all at risk.
The almost immediate effects of this government initiative will adversely affect the incomes not only of the internal racing sector, but other stakeholders in the horse industry such as: horse breeders, veterinarians, feed suppliers, equipment suppliers, trailer dealerships, real estate values of horse farm facilities, municipalities who depend on racetrack tax levies, and so on. Added to this, will be the issue of large numbers of no longer economically viable horses perhaps becoming "unwanted horses".
Should the Liberal government of Ontario persist in its plan to end the slots-at-racetracks program currently in place, significant monies now available to horse owners and trainers will be eliminated, having far-reaching, devastating effects in Ontario, and eventually across Canada.
What can CQHA members do? Two things:
#1. Members from across Canada can sign a petition(s) against this Ontario government initiative through any of these links: Quarter Racing Owners of Ont. Inc.; Standardbred Canada; Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ont. Div); Ontario Harness Racing Association; and HorseJournals.com
#2. Members who live in Ontario can attend a second rally confirmed for Monday, March 26th at Queen's Park (front lawn - 110 Wellesley Street, Toronto) from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. to show your support for the racing sector, in particular, and for agriculture in general.
This rally has been scheduled to emphasize once more, the importance of the horse racing industry, the economic benefits it contributes to the Province of Ontario, to provide information regarding the adverse effects, and to impress on the MPP's of the province, the magnitude of this ill-conceived initiative.
Bus transportation is in the organizational stages and departure points and times will be announced as soon as they become available. For further information please contact Brian Tropea at 1-866-774-6442 (toll free) or 905-854-6442, ext.222, or email: brian@ohha.ca
Your anticipated support for the Ontario Racing Sector is very much appreciated. We're all in this industry together!
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The mandate of the CQHA, a national affiliate of the AQHA, is to address issues of concern to Canadian owners of American Quarter Horses; to be a communications vehicle for and with Canadian owners of American Quarter Horses; and to promote and market, both globally and within Canada, Canadian-bred and/or Canadian-owned American Quarter Horses. For more information visit the CQHA website at: http://www.cqha.ca
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