http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=97517
The March decision by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission to end harness racing funding in the province has led to the reported euthanizing of healthy foals by several breeders across the countryside, according to QMI (Quebec Media Incorporated) Agency.
The announcement by legislators eight weeks ago to end the slot revenue-sharing agreement with racing authorities in the province is killing far more than a sport, condemning healthy animals to death mere days after they are born.
The heartbreaking decision by breeders to enthenize young foals results from the notoriously high cost of breeding and raising high-performance race horses. According to QMI Agency, raising such a horse can approach $10, 000: on average, a breeder can look to spend about $2,500 a year for veterinary care, $130 a month for shoes, approximately $10 a day for lodging and food.
This is without the inclusion ofstud fees, which alone reach into the tens of thousands of dollars, all before any money at all is made by owners from the horse participating in races. The local industry has reacted violently to the removal of government funding concessions, with the resulting instability throwing the harness racing community into financial disarray. Without the return on their sizable investment, breeders simply fear they will be ruined by the sheer cost of raising a top-quality racehorse.
"They (the breeders) definitely don't want to be doing this, but without knowing there's going to be some sort of stability in the industry, they feel like they don't have a choice," said Standardbred Canada registrar Pat Kennedy, in an interview with QMI.
This snap decision has affected the financial forecasting decisions breeders make: it takes 11 months from the date of conception for a foal to be born, meaning that a sizable financial outlay has already been made on the basis that horses will earn enough money to be profitable investments in future. The hefty stud fee is delivered on the birth of a healthy foal. In an interview with QMI, Brian Tropea, General Manager of the Ontario Harness Racing Association, voiced his frustration with the situation.
'"When they made those decisions, they were all hoping to raise healthy, strong foals," Tropea said. "For the government to cut their legs off, it was completely irresponsible."
Beyond the upsetting slaughter of young horses,prominent industry critics have suggestedthat the implications of government cutbacks is that the harness racing landscape in Ontario will look very bare in 2013, with many predicting all but seven or eight not-for-profit tracks will be closed down.
A week ago, Windsor Racecourse announced they would be shutting the track for good at the end of August, having lost its slots business already.Howard Howe speculatesthat racing in the province will be set to drop up to a third,with, he believes, even keystone event The Ontario Sires Stakes in danger. The event distributes something like $20 million dollars in purses and breeders award alone, not to mention the economic activity the event itself brings to the area.
No doubt these funding cuts can be traced back to the extended poor performance of the economy after the November 2007 credit crunch. (While economists disagree that Canada is experiencing a recession, 70% of the nation apparently disagrees.Copper hoarders might consider gettingscrap metal insuranceif much of the world is heading for a double-dip, as many pundits seem to agree.) The racing industries have been treated like glorified piggy banks ever since, with clubs right across the continent feeling the pinch.
Considering the program was originally brokered to raise additional funds for a cash-strapped government facing intense opposition from anti-slots campaigners in urban centers, you'd think the government would be more grateful. Revenues from slots at racetracks were split 20:80, with the lion's share going to the government. It seems greed has set in, and now the breeders and, ultimately, innocent animals have to pay the price.
by Imogen REED
The heartbreaking decision by breeders to enthenize young foals results from the notoriously high cost of breeding and raising high-performance race horses. According to QMI Agency, raising such a horse can approach $10, 000: on average, a breeder can look to spend about $2,500 a year for veterinary care, $130 a month for shoes, approximately $10 a day for lodging and food.
This is without the inclusion ofstud fees, which alone reach into the tens of thousands of dollars, all before any money at all is made by owners from the horse participating in races. The local industry has reacted violently to the removal of government funding concessions, with the resulting instability throwing the harness racing community into financial disarray. Without the return on their sizable investment, breeders simply fear they will be ruined by the sheer cost of raising a top-quality racehorse.
"They (the breeders) definitely don't want to be doing this, but without knowing there's going to be some sort of stability in the industry, they feel like they don't have a choice," said Standardbred Canada registrar Pat Kennedy, in an interview with QMI.
This snap decision has affected the financial forecasting decisions breeders make: it takes 11 months from the date of conception for a foal to be born, meaning that a sizable financial outlay has already been made on the basis that horses will earn enough money to be profitable investments in future. The hefty stud fee is delivered on the birth of a healthy foal. In an interview with QMI, Brian Tropea, General Manager of the Ontario Harness Racing Association, voiced his frustration with the situation.
'"When they made those decisions, they were all hoping to raise healthy, strong foals," Tropea said. "For the government to cut their legs off, it was completely irresponsible."
A week ago, Windsor Racecourse announced they would be shutting the track for good at the end of August, having lost its slots business already.Howard Howe speculatesthat racing in the province will be set to drop up to a third,with, he believes, even keystone event The Ontario Sires Stakes in danger. The event distributes something like $20 million dollars in purses and breeders award alone, not to mention the economic activity the event itself brings to the area.
No doubt these funding cuts can be traced back to the extended poor performance of the economy after the November 2007 credit crunch. (While economists disagree that Canada is experiencing a recession, 70% of the nation apparently disagrees.Copper hoarders might consider gettingscrap metal insuranceif much of the world is heading for a double-dip, as many pundits seem to agree.) The racing industries have been treated like glorified piggy banks ever since, with clubs right across the continent feeling the pinch.
Considering the program was originally brokered to raise additional funds for a cash-strapped government facing intense opposition from anti-slots campaigners in urban centers, you'd think the government would be more grateful. Revenues from slots at racetracks were split 20:80, with the lion's share going to the government. It seems greed has set in, and now the breeders and, ultimately, innocent animals have to pay the price.
by Imogen REED
