Local horse people are pleased a deal has been reached, while admitting it’s not everything they had hoped to see.
The Ontario Racing Commission has granted the Lakeshore Horse Racing Association 13 dates beginning later this summer. However, the exact dates have yet to be confirmed.
It’s likely another three months away, and negotiations continue because horse people would prefer to see race dates during the more popular summer period.
Originally, the race dates were set to begin in Leamington in August, but under the new deal, races will be pushed back to September.
“If it gets cold people won’t come. Leamington has an open grandstand so it'll be difficult to race those days,” says Lakeshore Mayor, Tom Bain
In April, 45 race dates were secured for Southwestern Ontario to be shared between the tracks in Dresden, Sarnia and Leamington.
The concern now is there are no dates set for another local track until July.
A member of the local association says there should have been races set for this month.
“They have to be spread out. It's like playing all the games in the same week,” says Mark Williams.
Horse people are pleased the purse money has increased from $10,000 to $35,000.
The provincial election is less than a week away and the association will be watching the results very closely.
Williams wouldn’t say who he’s throwing his support behind, but he says the current plan isn’t working.
