Each month I will endeavour to keep you up-to-date with the different SC Committee meetings and other industry meetings that Standardbred Canada management may be involved in. March hit us with the sudden problems with the new racinos in Quebec, massive snowstorms (cancelling racing) in Ontario, and the realization of all those March 15 stakes payments.
From April 1 to April 3, Kathy Wade Vlaar and her staff hosted the second National Marketing Workshop at the Mississauga Four Points Sheraton and the SC office. This workshop brings together the Canadian racetrack marketing managers to share ideas and information. It was from the first SC Marketing Workshop in 2006 that, in my opinion, gave birth to two of the best national promotions Standardbred Canada has ever been involved in. These being the National Driving Championship to determine Canada's driving delegate to the World Driving Championship, and the Trot National Handicapping Championship in which 17 different racetracks participated. Keep up the good work!
On April 16 the O'Brien/Cam Fella Committee will meet. This Committee continues to fine tune the O'Brien and Cam Fella Awards, and on April 17 the Executive Committee meets for its quarterly meeting where it addresses any issues that arise between Board meetings.
On April 29 to May 1, Standardbred Canada will join the Canadian Gaming Summit and co-host the first ever Standardbred Wagering Conference at the Palais des Congrès in Montreal. There will be a slate of international speakers that will bring industry stakeholders together to share ideas and address the decline in standardbred wagering. Speaking of a wagering conference, I would like to see something implemented that would grow the betting pools in Canada and make them more attractive to the wagering customer. With that thought I would like to congratulate the one winning ticket holder who purchased a Santa Anita Thoroughbred Pick 6 ticket for $4,320 and after taxes took home $3.1 million. The winning ticket was purchased at the Meadowlands.
I will report on all of the April SC Committee meetings and the Wagering Conference in my June column.
Most of the provincial and local associations’ award banquets took place in February and March and I would like to congratulate all of the nominees and winners. My home province of Alberta was no different with its Night of Champions taking place in February. I will not list all the winners, as they have been listed on the SC Website, but I would like to make particular mention of one award winner that night. Warren Grant received the ASHA “Horseman of the Year" trophy, not for the racing numbers he put up in 2007, but the real world numbers he has overcome. As described in this issue of Trot, Warren was very seriously injured in a life-threatening racing accident in December, 2006 at Edmonton’s Northlands Park. His broken bones are too numerous to list and with the fact that he also overcame a stroke from the accident, it’s even more amazing to know that Warren came back and campaigned a six-horse stable. Way to go, Warren! It is too easy for all of us to just think those are numbers going around the track and either we win or lose when, in fact, drivers and horses are risking their lives in each and every race.
Just a reminder that if you have any suggestions or thoughts, please track down your local Director or myself and we will ensure that your comments or ideas are directed to the right person or appropriate committee.
Talk to you next month!
A monthly newsletter from Standardbred Canada’s Chair of the Board of Directors.