Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “, brought to you by Hal Wright Chevrolet-Cadillac-GMC-Buick on the Sunset Strip in Owen Sound.
On a Saturday to Saturday basis from early May, and until recently, into October I spend time working at Hanover Raceway.
It’s fun. I truly enjoy it. And I’m proud to be a part of what is diligent effort to offer great local sports entertainment on weekly basis in small-town, Ontario
As you’re likely aware, a good deal of the joy in this activity has been sapped in the past two years, first by uncertainty, and then by the harsh reality and heightened future uncertainty of being a partner with the Ontario Government.
In a nutshell, what was a very sound partnership for Hanover, and for horse racing tracks around Ontario, with the provincial government was shredded when the number of dates for tracks like Hanover was cut, and furthermore, the level of purse money available was also slashed, and slashed big time.
Trust me, it’s not nearly as much fun being an adjacent participant when those who rely on the industry for their living are facing economic cuts and a murky future.
So imagine the surprise, the shock, & in some cases, the utter feeling of betrayal when it ” leaked ” out recently that the Provincial Government gave Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment half a million dollars to help secure the 2016 NBA All Star Game & could pony up another $ 7 million to executives connected to the 2015 Pan Am Games
Half A Million Dollars !!! To Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, of all organizations !
I have no beef with MLSE, or the Raptors, who have been inconsequential almost from the get go.
I have no idea who Drake is, and I’m happy the economic forecast for Toronto hosting this event is projected to be in the neighbourhood of $ 100 million.
But it strikes me as wrong, that my governing party is crying poor when it comes to the ” Slots At Racetracks ” program, but somehow has half a million dollars to fork over to Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment for one weekend.
I’m Fred Wallace