WEG to cease live racing in 2013?

[Headpole Dave]

From Standardbred Canada:

At today's post-position draw for the 153rd running of the Queen's Plate, Woodbine Entertainment Group CEO Nick Eaves said that if an agreement isn't reached with the Ontario Government to work out some sort of "operating model" Woodbine Racetrack may have to cease to operate after March 31, 2013.

[Wilderness]

There's apt to be more announcements since the budget passed.

 If racing at WEG folds, racing in the entire province folds.

 Once this decisions have been made and arrangements to liquidate long term investments are in place, the Ontario lawmakers could play their silly game and reverse their decisions, however nothing would restore in-place-liquidations-of-assets.

 The Ontario breeding industry would have a difficult time recovering, even if the decisions were repealed today.

[careless hal]

A hard body blow to Harness Racing no matter how you look at it.

[AmyHollar]

A hard body blow to Harness Racing no matter how you look at it.

[Headpole Dave]

There's apt to be more announcements since the budget passed.

 If racing at WEG folds, racing in the entire province folds.

 Once this decisions have been made and arrangements to liquidate long term investments are in place, the Ontario lawmakers could play their silly game and reverse their decisions, however nothing would restore in-place-liquidations-of-assets.

 The Ontario breeding industry would have a difficult time recovering, even if the decisions were repealed today.

I have serious doubts that anything will happen. McGuinty has proven that he's sold out to the Vegas interests and wants nothing to do with the most successful money making program his goverment had going. Harness racing may not exist in Ontario in ten years with these developments.

[Wilderness]

Dave,
         The OLG's primary concern (in their original press conference) was very low-key, when they stated that OLG was never intended to have 7,000 employee's.

 When OLG divests themselves from the "former-employee's" they eliminate the expense of fringe benefits and long term pensions.

 I don't believe the Ontario tracks and horsemen could reverse the present plan if they removed all the VLT's today and placed them on the front sidewalk in a boycott action.

[Headpole Dave]

Don,

I think you're absolutely right. They want out and they are eliminating any costs - specifically as you point out wages, benefits, and jobs. Basically the Wal-Mart philosophy. I really don't see racing in Ontario surviving this blow.

[jordanjacob]

I was hoping best case Mohawk and 3 other Monticello purse style tracks