In a welcome move, Ontario Racing announced that it would offer financial assistance to those parties affected by recently cancelled horseracing events.
In a statement that the entire local horseracing community has welcomed, Ontario Racing has stated that it will be providing financial aid to all horse people who were affected by recent cancellations of horseracing events. The events in question include April happenings at Rideau Carleton Raceway, Western Fair District and Woodbine Mohawk Park venues.
The entire horseracing industry is going through some of its most challenging times ever, suffering from the direct impact of the restrictions imposed as the result of the ongoing global pandemic. The everchanging lockdown regime has hurt the sport and has ground to a halt the current standardbred season.
Event Cancellations
As a result of the curtailment of live harness events, Ontario Racing has decided to issue provisional payments to all the horse people who have felt the brunt of the restrictions. The events in question were planned to take place on the third and fourth of April. All of the venues mentioned above will be receiving a sum of CA$300 for each horse scheduled to take part in the competitions.
It is estimated that the total number of affected horses currently stands at 310. The funds have been made available through the Funding Agreement for Live Horse Racing, set up by the Ontario Lottery Corporation and Ontario Racing. All payments should be put through by the end of this week.
Single-Event Protection
With Canada on the verge of legalising single-event betting, the horseracing regulators in Ontario have backed the move, but under the condition that the legislative amendment will not harm the current industry jobs. In turn, the legislators informed the horseracing industry that they would be excluded from the bill to shield it from unintentional damages.
