Update From OHRIA On Task Force Plan, Negotiations With Government

Published: July 23, 2012 01:10 pm EDT

"Believe me, OHRIA is weighing all the different options of handling this. And I know on the surface, to many, they don't feel OHRIA's been aggressive enough. I believe that for the point we're at right now, we've been plenty aggressive. Maybe not as publicly as some would like."

On today's episode of Trot Radio, Norm Borg talks to OHRIA President Sue Leslie for an update on the plan that was initially slated to be presented to government at the end of June. According to Leslie, the board reconsidered its timing for presenting Stan Sadinsky's finalized plan.

"We're getting really close, Norm. Strategically, the task force and the board of OHRIA decided that while we were in the midst of conversation with the OMAFRA panel and while different associations and individuals both inside and outside of the horse racing and breeding industry were meeting with them, it just made no sense to publicly come forward with a plan. We haven't put a plan in front of the government yet."

One thing Leslie and OHRIA feel strongly about is the need for horse racing to remain a part of the province's gaming strategy. The partnership worked extremely well for both the Ontario government and the horse racing industry for three decades before Paul Godfrey and Dwight Duncan's blindsiding announcement in March that the OLG would move ahead with a modernization strategy that dropped horse racing in March 2013.

"We strongly believe that if we allow horse racing to be separated from the strategic gaming plan in the province, horse racing will get ate up. It's kind of like the small grocery store trying to compete with the Fortino's that just went in along side of them. We don't see ourselves being successful in the long term if we're not part of the gaming strategy."

While individuals like Senator Bob Runciman and Dennis Mills have publicly criticized racing's response to government as being weak, Leslie vehemently disagrees.

"As long as there's negotiations and an effort being made between the government and OHRIA to try and solve this, that is the route that our board has decided to take. Now, that can change. That can change in a week, that can change in a month, that can change in two months. If we don't feel there's any type of progress being made, then obviously we have to become more aggressive. There's still time to do that."

Leslie also touches on whether OHRIA has considered litigation and if it's an option. To hear the full interview with Borg and Leslie, click the play button below.

Episode 269 – OHRIA's Sue Leslie

Audio Format: MP3 audio

Host: Norm Borg


Please note that the opinions expressed in the featured interview are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect Rideau Carleton Raceway and/or Standardbred Canada.

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