Attended by 51 Harness Racing BC (HRBC) members, the Special General Meeting held on June 17, passed the Special resolution, unanimously, to enable the newly elected board of HRBC to take over prior to the initial AGM scheduled for October 2010
.
The following 12 people received the highest vote tallies in each category and form the new Board of HRBC:
Breeders
David Woolley
Brett Currie
Bob Chadwick
Gar Campbell
Owners
Nigel Holmes
Jim Vinnell
Al Bird
Paul Gilley
Trainers/Drivers
Rick White
Jim Mohorich
Dave Hudon
Scott Knight
The formal business was followed by a Q&A period to discuss the current status of the GPEB-driven restructuring of the Horse Racing Industry and the current position, half way through 2010.
Importantly, the new Board will now be in a position to participate in the important issues and discussions involving harness racing going forward.
Immediately following the formal business, while members present enjoyed some food and refreshments, the new directors retired to elect their officers and representatives. The need for continuity and experience at this critical time was acknowledged and the following were elected for 2010:
President: Jim Vinnell
Vice-President: Brett Currie
Secretary/Treasurer: Scott Knight
TBC Directors: Jim Vinnell (continuing); David Woolley - Nigel Holmes and Al Bird will act as alternates
HRBC Rep. to Finance Working Group: Bob Chadwick
GPEB – Horse Racing Management Committee
GPEB held a Horse Racing Industry meeting on Monday, June 7, 2010 to include The Horse Racing Industry Management Committee, (appointed by GPEB) and representatives from Harness Racing BC, HBPA, CTHS, Fraser Downs, Hastings Entertainment and BCLC. Topics for the agenda were:
- Industry finances and industry prognosis
- Status and implementation of the new monthly funding disbursement process
- Use of part of BCLC’s $500,000 commitment in kind for advertising
Adjustment Of Funding Allocations
In late February 2010 when the Government declared its intention to implement the new financial model that it had been working on, the allocation to harness racing was $8 million for the calendar year 2010. At that time, some seven weeks into the year, it was also advised that the new financial model would be retrospective to January 1, 2010.
Subsequently, a decline in wagering across the board, including the negative impact of the Olympics on Fraser Downs and the closure of the Hastings, reduced the funding estimate overall and the allocations to all parties. HRBC was reduced to $7.6 million in March (down $400,000). At the same time, the GPEB discovered an error in its calculations with Great Canadian, which caused a further reduction of similar size down to $7.2 million, though this was never confirmed officially as revenues continued to decline.
At the industry meeting on June 7, 2010 figures presented showed that income continued lower than anticipated in all areas and allocations were to be revised downward again. The industry total “Money In” position, including net wagers, provincial levy returned, slot grants, simulcast revenues, program sales and additional government funding obtained in 2010 was reduced from a starting point of over $50 million to just over $44 million, or $32 million net of TBC operating costs. The revised allocation for the 2010 calendar year for harness racing is now $6.23 million.
While this is a severe reduction from the initial $8 million allocation advised in February 2010, it will allow all of the stakes programs scheduled to be conducted, as well as some 27 days of overnight purses at $50,000 a day, starting at the first of October, to stay within that allocation. All other industry parties are similarly reduced for 2010.
2010–2011 Schedule Of Racing
The schedule for the race meet in the fall of 2010 was released, based on the funding allocation as at April 2010, with the first race date to be Friday, October 1, 2010 at 7 p.m.
The highlights of the proposed schedule then were:
- Friday night racing from Oct. 1, 2010 to Apr. 29, 2011, starting at 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday afternoon racing from Oct. 15, 2010 to Apr. 16, 2011, at 1:15 p.m.
- Sunday afternoon racing from Oct. 17, 2010 to Apr. 10, 2011, at 1:15 p.m.
*The 27 race days referred to above will require the elimination of some 10 days from the published schedule. Current thinking is reduction of Sunday racing until boxing day. However, negotiations must continue with Great Canadian with respect to their $3.8 million industry shortfall.
(With files from HRBC)