British Columbia
Moderators: Roguelet, hpkingjr, WaveMaster
British Columbia
So what is happening with BC racing? An earlier discussion revolved around a mass exidous of trainers to Alberta yet not one has a stall at Stampede Park this spring. Is something positive happening in BC?
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Tucumcari
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Re: British Columbia
Is something positive happening in BC?[/quote]
Not a shot. Nail in the coffin was Mr Wall calling it quits a few short months after buying the place. He made 18 or 19 million when Great Canadian Casino bought out his 40%. IF there was a real chance of the money that slots would generate, Mr Wall wouldn't have gotten out rapidly. He's a very savvy business man.
Not a shot. Nail in the coffin was Mr Wall calling it quits a few short months after buying the place. He made 18 or 19 million when Great Canadian Casino bought out his 40%. IF there was a real chance of the money that slots would generate, Mr Wall wouldn't have gotten out rapidly. He's a very savvy business man.
Were all the stalls at STP assigned? Even if they were assigned, it's pretty common for STP to take a stall away if there isn't a horse in it. I don't expect many trainers to make the trek, but the test will be between Mar. 23 when STP starts and Apr. 28 when HST starts. That's when we'll find out who, if any, HST trainers are checking things out.
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JimbleBrimble
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No more room on the Alberta government teat...
Per the following story... there are already too many racing people nursing at the Alberta government:
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/01/18/3399844-sun.html
Alberta Grits are calling on Premier Ed Stelmach to phase out what they claim is a "sweetheart deal" that's pumping $200 million into horse racing.
MLA Maurice Tougas says it's time for the new government to come up with a plan to wean Horse Racing Alberta off the government teat.
"No industry in Alberta has received a more one-sided sweetheart deal from the Progressive Conservative government than its friends in horse racing," he said. "Clearly it's time for Stelmach to put an end to this sweetheart deal."
Tougas said the government has pumped $136 million in slot-machine revenue into the industry over the past four years, will add another $60 million this year and has extended the deal for another decade.
He said the province could have used that money to build 15 new schools, hired 4,000 nurses or created 1,300 long-term care beds.
Tourism Minister Hector Goudreau, who is responsible for the funding, was travelling and not available to comment, a department spokesman said.
But Horse Racing Alberta chairman Dr. David Reid said the Grits are spreading "innuendo and half truths."
"They want to kill something that's successful," he told the Sun.
"They have no concept of how they will replace what they kill."
Reid said the deal Alberta reached with the not-for-profit industry is seen as a model in North America for preventing horse racing from being strangled by casino and VLT gambling.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/01/18/3399844-sun.html
Alberta Grits are calling on Premier Ed Stelmach to phase out what they claim is a "sweetheart deal" that's pumping $200 million into horse racing.
MLA Maurice Tougas says it's time for the new government to come up with a plan to wean Horse Racing Alberta off the government teat.
"No industry in Alberta has received a more one-sided sweetheart deal from the Progressive Conservative government than its friends in horse racing," he said. "Clearly it's time for Stelmach to put an end to this sweetheart deal."
Tougas said the government has pumped $136 million in slot-machine revenue into the industry over the past four years, will add another $60 million this year and has extended the deal for another decade.
He said the province could have used that money to build 15 new schools, hired 4,000 nurses or created 1,300 long-term care beds.
Tourism Minister Hector Goudreau, who is responsible for the funding, was travelling and not available to comment, a department spokesman said.
But Horse Racing Alberta chairman Dr. David Reid said the Grits are spreading "innuendo and half truths."
"They want to kill something that's successful," he told the Sun.
"They have no concept of how they will replace what they kill."
Reid said the deal Alberta reached with the not-for-profit industry is seen as a model in North America for preventing horse racing from being strangled by casino and VLT gambling.
Do you really think it matters what kind of a smear campaign the Liberals or NDP want to run against horseracing. Depending on the poll the PC's are running at between 68% and 75% support. The only poll that counts happens on election day, but I assure you this smear campaign will have no more impact on the current premier than it had on the previous one.
The scary part is the publics opinion is being swayed. There needs to be more said for the jobs, agricultural benefits etc of horse racing compared to lottery tickets and bingo parlors. Most people do not even think buyin a lottery ticket is gambling and how many people do you see every day at the local convieience stores loading up. Racing needs to do more to advertise the fact that we are an industry with live people and animals not just a gambling joint. The fact is the handle has been up in Alberta which is something almost unique for NA and no one refutes that to the liberal. The government is in direct conflict with horse racing with casinos, lottery tickets etc andDr. Reid brought that to the governments attention he with HRA have been a guiding light in an industry that was dieing a slow death. We are starting to see owners, breeders and trainers return in Alberta due to HRA's policies tahnks to the help of our previous leader. This point needs to be broadcast to the public as well as the Liberal party.
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JimbleBrimble
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Yes, the handle has been up in Alberta simply because they plugged-in and turned the light on.
After years of running the Alberta tracks aground, and then finally bailing them out with slots money, just to survive at the current paltry handle numbers, the powers that be there finally connected to U.S. pools for simulcasting and voila - the handle went up. But they can't really take any credit for it, can they?
After years of running the Alberta tracks aground, and then finally bailing them out with slots money, just to survive at the current paltry handle numbers, the powers that be there finally connected to U.S. pools for simulcasting and voila - the handle went up. But they can't really take any credit for it, can they?
What's your issue Jimmy? Most people posting here wish other people well. You seem intent on trashing racing in Alberta. There are myriads of problems with racing in Alberta just like there are other places. Pointing out these problems doesn't make things look better in BC, it just makes you look arrogant.
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JimbleBrimble
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BC ???
What does that have to do with anything?
It doesn't make things look better in Zaire either, and it doesn't make things look better in Nepal.
And the only person shining any light on Alberta racing on this forum during these past several months has been you. Unfortunately your understandings and what others can plainly see for themselves, don't mesh.
Alberta racing thanks you for your efforts I'm sure.
It is quite curious to others that mister Alberta racing didn't see fit to dispute the realities of the backbone of any recent handle increase there.
We'll see you at Stampede Park, unless you're caught up in that wave of mass exodus from other circuits landing on the backstretch in Calgary.
Surf's up in Alberta!
What does that have to do with anything?
It doesn't make things look better in Zaire either, and it doesn't make things look better in Nepal.
And the only person shining any light on Alberta racing on this forum during these past several months has been you. Unfortunately your understandings and what others can plainly see for themselves, don't mesh.
Alberta racing thanks you for your efforts I'm sure.
It is quite curious to others that mister Alberta racing didn't see fit to dispute the realities of the backbone of any recent handle increase there.
We'll see you at Stampede Park, unless you're caught up in that wave of mass exodus from other circuits landing on the backstretch in Calgary.
Surf's up in Alberta!
It seems there is an increase in handle in ALberta regardless of how it happened and that is a positive, the attendence on track is also up so again a positive. Several people who have left the industry are returning, owners, trainers and breeders. There are a lot of positives in Alberta because of HRA's programs. In 2002 racing was going the way of GREAT LAKE DOWNS. I think everyone in racing loses when that happens. Hopefully things will stay on the improve. HRA has implemented backstrech program such as a learning center with computers, cable in dorm rooms, day care subsidies all aimed at helping the backstrech personal in order to facilitate the quality care of owners horses. They have been instrumental in the highly successful groom and gallop schools at OLds college etc. There are negatives in every jurisdiction but ALberta is working on some positives where I see very few in BC for owners or trainers. Racing 2 days a week is tough on everyone including the horses.
Sorry Jimmy, but disputing undocumented assertion made on an internet forum just seems rather pointless to me.
As for things looking up for racing in Alberta, in every one of my posts, even the ones where I have focused on the upside for racing, I have also pointed out that there are many many problems to overcome.
As for things looking up for racing in Alberta, in every one of my posts, even the ones where I have focused on the upside for racing, I have also pointed out that there are many many problems to overcome.
Well ,since we are on the topic of Alberta and not BC. Oh as much as Alberta racing can be painful at times I woulndn't wish gcgc as track owners on anyone. I would think for this year be happy . You could be in the boat most of harness are in Extended Grand Prarie Meet. Yipee. At least you get to Race a A track with yout horses. I think the worry will be on next year to see if that new track is up and running. Last I saw there was a lot of dirt pushing going on. The HRA in all of it wisdom Cancelled there contract at Stampede before the new track had the ground broke on it . If I was a trainer looking to move to Alberta I would take that into high consideration. I know there were a few Harness guys from Alberta that choose to move to Califoria ( Cal- Expo) for this winter season possibly longer. Cal -expo even threw in a 2000 dollar per horse bonus for horses never previously raced in Califoria to draw horseman down there.