18 • Thursday, April 25, 2013
THE STANDARD ON SPORTS
The Standard
Ajax Downs racing with a new deal BLAKE WOLFE The Standard
STARS HAND OUT HARDWARE: Uxbridge Minor Hockey held their annual banquet on Friday, April 19, to honour the achievements of the 2012-13 season. (Top) The family of Robert Johnson poses with Jake Vieira, the first-ever winner of the Robert Johnson Fan of the Year award. (Below, from left) Kyle Weir, Daniel Montanari, Cooper Britton, Austin Cutara and Jake Catherwood check out some of the NHL trophies on loan from the Hockey Hall of Fame for the event. DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
DURHAM: Local horse farm owners are breathing a little easier, after a transitional deal was reached between the provincial government and the Ajax Downs race track, following last year’s cancellation of the slots-at-race-track program. The transition funding, provided over the next three years, will compensate Ontario’s race tracks and their related industries following the loss of revenue generated from slot machines. In March 2012, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) announced a number of restructuring measures, which included the closure of slot machine facilities at several Ontario racetracks, slashing hundreds of jobs in the process. In addition to the race track cuts, calls were also made for the closure of under-performing casinos and their subsequent replacement with privatelybuilt gaming facilities, including one proposed for an undetermined location in the Greater Toronto Area. The cuts are estimated to save the province more than $1.3 billion. This latest agreement with Ajax is one of the many reached between the province and Ontario’s race tracks over the last year. Deals have already been reached with Georgian Downs, Flamboro Downs, Fort Erie Race Track, Western Fair, Clinton, Hanover, Mohawk and Woodbine Race Tracks. A deal with Kawartha Downs in Peterborough is still being negotiated. With many local horse farmers producing animals that go on to race at many of these tracks, the news of another deal - particularly one at a nearby track - has been greeted with relief. “I would like to thank the Picov Family for their continued support for Quarter Horse racing,” said Nestleton resident Bob Broadstock, President of the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario Inc., in a statement to media. “Both Nick Coukos and Emilio Trotta have worked tirelessly to ensure the future of the sport.”
Zephyr motocross fundraiser approaches the starting line DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
A motocross event in Zephyr scheduled for this summer moved a little closer to the start line recently, as council further debated details regarding the event. At a recent council meeting, Ward 2 Councillor Pat Molloy pitched a number of changes to the event in the hopes of making the second edition of the day of races, scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 21, a greater success. The changes proposed by Councillor Molloy included, practice time changed to noon until 4 p.m. instead of 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 20 as was originally proposed.
As well, Councillor Molloy explained that Luke Dillon, the Zephyr property owner who is hosting the event, has agreed to not race on weekends at his property during the summer months in exchange for the opportunity to host his event, which is expected to raise money for improvements at the Zephyr Community Hall. Councillor Molloy also took exception with a perceived double standard existing between the CMX motocross event, and a mountain bike race scheduled to run at the Woodnewton property on Conc. 6. “There is a big difference in how you are treating these events,” commented Councilor Molloy. “We have an agreement
with CMX that’s come before council and meanwhile you’ve made a deal with Woodnewton in the back room somewhere.” In response, Ward 5 Councillor Gord Highet explained that council as well as township staff are often left in the dark surrounding details of events planned within the township. “We’re here scrambling for info and they should come in after the event and report to council if they plan to hold the event again next year,” said Councillor Highet. However, as Councillor Molloy pointed out, that is exactly what Mr. Dillon did following his event last year that saw proceeds go towards the Uxbridge Cottage Hospital, only to see his event for
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this year delayed by the township. “Mr. Dillon appeared before council in August and was told that we’d have a special events by-law to deal with this by October. And it didn’t even start to happen until February,” Councillor Molloy explained. “We’ve screwed around with this since August, and it’s been more than enough time.” Councillors would agree with Mr. Molloy’s sentiments, and later passed a motion to make the changes to the event proposed by Mr. Molloy. For more information on the races in Zephyr as well as other CMX motocross events throughout the province, please visit their web site at www.cmxracing.ca.