The Ontario-bred and Ontario-sired Rewards Program will remain intact and will distribute 15 percent and 5 percent of eligible purses, respectively, to the breeding community. These projections maintain the Ontario program as one of the leading programs of its type in North America.
Last month, the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) announced that funding of up to $30 million had been secured by government to develop the Standardbred and Thoroughbred components of Horse Improvement Program. This Notice confirms that planning and implementing of the 2013 program is moving forward in consultation with stakeholders and the Advisory Groups.
To assist the HIP Program Administrator in developing the 2013 racing program, a working group has been tasked with developing a series of options, designed to reflect the current supply of horses and the changing environment in Ontario horse racing. The options developed by this group will be provided to the Standardbred Advisory Group for its review.
Weekly meetings have produced many constructive ideas, which are currently being further developed and tested by the administration.
The working group is made up of industry participants as follows:
John Bax
Jack Darling
Ron Durand
Ian Fleming
Jeff Gillis
Scott McKelvie
Ted Smith
Ann Straatman
Ben Wallace
Jackie Warner
Paula Wellwood
Final details on the Ontario Sired program will be communicated to the industry once the work of the Standardbred Advisory Group and the Working Group are complete and once the summer schedule of race dates for the province are finalized by mid-April.
The 2013 Racing Program for Ontario Sired horses is being developed based on the program’s existing mandate, which has served Ontario well for many decades, but is also being reviewed for changes necessary to reflect the new industry in the post Slots-At- Racetracks Program environment.
For further Program information, please contact:
Karen Hauver
OSS Administration Coordinator
519 369-3545
karen.hauver@ontarioracingcommission.ca
Media Inquiries:
Wendy Hoogeveen
Director Industry Development and Support
416 213-0520