Doomsday Around the Corner for Harness Racing in Nova Scotia?

Published: December 26, 2010 01:40 pm EST

I’m not usually one known to bare bad news, but what I’m about to say today needs to be heard immediately and we need to act TODAY.

Harness Racing in Nova Scotia is on its way out and if something isn’t done NOW, we’ll be finished forever. My apologies for being so blunt, but there’s nothing closer to the truth than that.

The writing is on the wall – take a glance the next time you walk by.

Take a second and look at our industry stats, for instance. Breeding numbers compiled by Standardbred Canada show that in 2007, 243 mares were bred in Nova Scotia. In 2010, that number barely squeaked past 90 – a 62% drop in just three years.

Of those 91 mares, using a rough estimate, only 80% of those will deliver a live foal. That leaves 72 mares. Factor in that 40% will not make the races as two year olds and suddenly you’re left will only 43 ‘Bred in Nova Scotia’ foals. Allot another 40% to those not good enough to race in stake events and you’re left with 25 two year olds – at the most.

In two years time, there will be 62% less Nova Scotia breds, maybe even more considering these are conservative estimates. Go ahead; wrap your head around that.

What’s even more frightening is why hasn’t anything been done about this? I’m certainly no expert, but wouldn’t such a drastic drop in one of our most fundamental forecast models warrant enough cause for an emergency measure into finding a new strategy for our provincial breeding industry? I certainly hope it would.

The drastic downward spiral continues onward to our provinces largest track, Truro Raceway, as well. Two months ago at a horse owners association meeting it was decided that racing at the oval would have to be reduced – again, by a huge number. For a track that advertises itself as a facility that “operates year-round, and offers live harness racing every Sunday”, it’s disturbing that it must reduce live cards by 21%-28% (or 11 to 15 race dates) to remain operational.

Racing ended on December 19th, 2010 and will return the first Sunday in March if sufficient funds have been saved for the “in-debt” purse pool account. Every week without live racing equals money profited via income from simulcast wagering and if enough isn’t saved by the first of March, another month of no racing will be tacked onto the already reduced schedule. A plan was not presented to combat what happens if the account is not in the black by April.

With the exception to Cape Breton (they are doing awesome!), the people involved in Harness Racing in Nova Scotia need to come together, form a strategic plan and provide a new direction to our decaying industry. It’s nearing collapse – whether you want to admit or not.

Anything I can do to help turn this ship around, I’ll do. If you’re game, I’d hope you would too.

Happy Holidays and best wishes in the New Year!

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