Thursday, February 13, 2014 The Cloverdale Reporter 3
Keeling: it’s possible more race days could be added
FEBRUARY 14-16, 2014
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Chuck Keeling, Great Canadian executive director of stakeholder relations, said although the racing schedule only stretches until April, it’s still possible more races could be added later on this year. He wouldn’t comment on the likelihood of that happening, but said he’s hopeful the number of 2014 race days will be comparable to those of the last few years. Racetrack revenues at Fraser Downs and Hastings declined 60 per cent in the first nine months of 2013 ($7.9 million) compared to the same period in 2008 ($19.6 million), according to Great Canadian financial reports. “This decrease is primarily due to the ongoing industry-wide decline in horse race wagering,” one report said. The financial statements did not separate revenue between Fraser Downs and Hastings racetracks. Keeling said these figures reflect the core challenges plaguing an industry that’s been in decline for decades. But he added the B.C. Horse Racing Industry Management committee – which includes representatives from Great Canadian Gaming, Harness Racing B.C. and the thoroughbred sector – is working on a long-term sustainability plan to provide the industry with more certainty going forward. “Could this be a sunset industry? (It’s) possible, but there’s precedent – like poker – for it not to be,” Keeling said. He pointed out interest in the
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Sandra Roberts says the barns at Fraser Downs were filled with young people tending horses and cleaning stables, help horsemen can no longer afford.
well-known card game was waning dramatically a few decades back. But poker had a resurgence about 10 or 15 years ago as TV shows and Internet gambling made the game popular once again.
Keeling said he hopes the horse-racing industry will find a similar resurgence, but it’s still in the hands of the B.C. Horse Racing Industry Management committee.
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