Quebeckers Shut Out of Horserace Wagering
In mid October, four of Quebec's horseracing tracks closed down, meaning that essentially, Quebeckers have no legal way of wagering on their favourite sport.
Attractions Hippiques owner, Paul Massicotte, closed down all four tracks after the local government announced in October that it would not be refunding pari mutuel taxes in Quebec and would be stopping commissions from VLTs.
Due to the fact that Quebeckers are not contributing to the betting pools for the moment, Woodbine Entertainment Group said that wagering at its tracks dropped $500,000 over the past month.
"It's really sad," commented driver-trainer Jacques Herbert. "I never thought that I'd live long enough to see this in Quebec.
The effects are being felt across the entire province, including the breeding industry, where Quebec-bred horses have lost their value.
The four horseracing tracks owned by Attractions Hippiques were the last standing in Quebec, which was once considered the racing capital of Canada.
The Hippodrome de Montreal (Blue Bonnets Raceway) has not been in operation since 2008 and its former executive, Mike MacCormac said that "never in a million years" would he have thought that racing would die out in Quebec.
"It's absolutely absurd," he said.
There is optimism, however, that a group of 10 Quebec businessmen, owners of the Quebec Jockey Club, will manage to start a 50 day racing meet in Montreal in 2010, thus offering Quebeckers a legal way of wagering once more.
