from the Ontario Harness Horse Association

Campbellville, ON — For the past several months the Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA) have been in talks with Great Canadian Gaming around issues that will have an immediate impact on local horsepeople located at the track, as well as having a detrimental long-term effect on the future of Flamboro Downs. Here is a brief update on these issues.

1. Closure of Flamboro Downs backstretch. OHHA has asked the Ontario Racing Commission to extend an order preventing the closure of the backstretch until after the arbitration hearings have taken place. Great Canadian Gaming has issued a notice that the backstretch will be closed down as of May 31 despite a contractual agreement with OHHA to keep the backstretch open until December 31, 2008.

2. New race times/decline in live handle. OHHA believes that the change of post time to 6:00 p.m. has had a direct impact on the live handle and has asked Great Canadian Gaming to review their decision. Great Canadian Gaming has refused to review the post time change until at least the fall of 2007. As a result, OHHA has asked the ORC to intervene and formally review this matter.

“This is a very frustrating situation for our members who live, stable or race at Flamboro Downs,” said OHHA President Jim Whelan. “Any of the changes being proposed by Great Canadian Gaming are not in the best interest of the future of horse racing in Ontario.”

OHHA will continue to update their members as new things happen in their negotiations with Great Canadian Gaming on the above issues.