IN THE MATTER OF THE RACING COMMISSION ACT, S.O. 2000, c.20;
AND IN THE MATTER OF WINDSOR RACEWAY’S
APPLICATION FOR REDUCTION IN LIVE RACE DATES
An application to make changes to the approved 2004 schedule of race dates was received from Windsor Raceway.
The Ontario Racing Commission approves the following changes to Windsor Raceway’s schedule of 2004 dates:
Delete 10 race dates, Fridays and Saturdays as follows:
February 27 and 28
March 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27
Changing the post times on Wednesdays from 7:25 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. as follows:
February 25 through to May 5
Changing the post times on Sundays from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. as follows:
February 29 through to May 9
Reasons for Decision for the Majority and Reasons for Dissenting Decision are attached.
BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION
Jean Major
Executive Director
MAJORITY REASONS FOR DECISION
Windsor Raceway has applied for a reduction in the live race dates by deleting Fridays and Saturdays in March and two dates in February. The request has been circulated as in the normal course and no objections have been received.
Unlike the original race date application for 2004, OHHA has decided it should support this reduction in live race dates. OHHA’s interests apparently are satisfied by the increase in the number of races per card to 16 on Sundays in the relevant period and the change in post times.
It is with great reluctance that we approve this, with the Vice Chair writing dissenting reasons.
It seems to us inconsistent to resist the increase in the number of races per card at Rideau Carlton but support them in Windsor, as OHHA is doing.
It also appears to us to be a change that does not take into account the public who are losing one of their options for entertainment on Friday and Saturday in Windsor for the weeks in question. The assumption by the track and the horsemen is that the public will return to the track when racing returns to Friday and Saturday, rather than continuing with the alternative entertainment that they substituted due to the closure of live racing on those days. We put forward the proposition that such an assumption is probably only valid with the most loyal of fans, and there is a risk of confusion and disappointment in those who come less frequently and are less avid attendees.
We expect the track to be knowledgeable about what the public in its community wants for entertainment and where the racetrack fits into the various opportunities, and to be able to market its product effectively. We raise these concerns and direct that the track advise us of any impacts from this change on handle or track attendance over the year as part of its 2005 race date application.
Dated this 26th day of February 2004.
Lynda Tanaka
Chair
REASONS FOR DISSENTING DECISION
I have had the opportunity to review the Reasons for Decision of the Chair. The concerns voiced by the Chair are valid. The omission of the presentation of live racing on Friday and Saturday evening in this time of extreme competition for the wagering and entertainment dollar must, of necessity, be reviewed with skepticism.
We have been given some economic evidence and rationale to support the application for the amendment. However, we have been given no real evidence as to why the proposed variation is in furtherance of the well being of horse racing generally and the broader public interest. It is difficult to accept that Sunday and Wednesday “double headers” should replace live Friday and Saturday evening presentations of live horse racing at Windsor. The public should be entitled to expect live horse racing in prime leisure and discretionary spending periods.
We must take great care in viewing “more races per card” as a panacea for all or some of the issues in racing in Ontario. This Commission has voiced its concerns about this trend on a number of occasions in the past, the most recent being in the race date Reasons for Rideau Carleton Raceway in October 2003 where a trend was noted by the majority in their Reasons for Decision to still be “controversial”.
Therefore, on the material made available to us, I cannot approve the application as filed.
Dated at Toronto, this 26th day of February, 2004.
Larry Todd
Vice Chair