Some encouragement for the Lakeshore Horse Raceway association, but no firm commitment on race dates from the province about next season.
Association member Tom Bain says he's pleased the rural affairs minister came to Leamington to discuss the province's five year plan for horse racing.
“Definitely, everyone left very positive, the minister of rural affairs, Windsor West MPP Teresa Piruzza,” says Bain. “They said they would help us in putting our case forward.”
Minister Jeff Leal was impressed with the results of the four race dates granted by the Ontario Racing Commission.
He encourages the group to develop a business plan for the ORC.
Bain says the plan is being drafted and will ask for 30 dates at the Leamington fairgrounds starting in June.
“The next hurdle is we have to have an application submitted by Nov. 1,” says Bain. “After that we need to update our business plan and forward it to Elmer Buchanan the new race commissioner.
Out of the $400-million, five year investment promised by the province, Bain says there’s about $8 million earmarked for regional tracks.
“We’ll be competing for the $8 million,” says Bain. He says he doesn’t know how many other regional tracks, like Dresden, will be also in the running for the money. That depends on how many others submit applications.
