So I ventured down to Woodbine on New Year’s day to try and figure out exactly what was going on between the track and the Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA). The two sides had their contract run out at the end of 2009, so anyone racing on January 1st was doing so without an agreement. OHHA was urging its members to boycott the racing, but ten races were run yesterday. Had there been full participation, Woodbine had planned to run a busy card of 13 races, and many of yesterday’s heats had only 7 or 8 horses. So, doing the math, it seems roughly that a third of the horsemen are honouring the boycott. I looked for leading trainers Ben Ballairgeon and Robert Fellows – neither was in attendance. Leading driver Jody Jamieson was absent and I didn’t see Paul MacDonell as well.
On the other hand, veterans Rick Zeron, Mike Saftic, Luc Ouellette, Randy Waples and Sylvain Filion were there.
Actually, I had an interesting meeting inside the track, before I visited the paddock. At the bottom of the escalators leading to the second floor, there was OHHA director John Walzac and officer Brian Tropea. Both had cheshire smiles on their faces after being asked to leave the paddock. Perhaps Woodbine officials were concerned they were rallying the troops.
As for the boycott, it’s hard to call it a success….looking ahead to January 5th..which would reflect how many horsemen entered horses after January 1st, I see 11 races carded…and a total of 88 horses.
It makes me wonder if there is a significant rift among the horsemen. Will there be festering resentment among those loyal to OHHA against those who showed up to race? Will it become increasingly difficult for drivers and trainers to stay on the side of the boycott while the others keep scooping up the purses?
Woodbine’s latest release on the contract negotiations is worded in a most interesting way.
“Important changes woodbine is seeking include:
OHHA’s support of the fight against cheaters including support for Woodbine’s duty to provide honest racing by barring or suspending invidiuals who have had a positive test for performance enhancing drugs
and… OHHA permitting existing HPI account wagering customers to continue wagering in the event OHHA boycotts live racing.”
In the first case, OHHA wants to the right to represent and counsel members who have been banned by Woodbine. Personally, I don’t see this as a reason to stop racing. Individuals nailed for drugs at the track always have the option of fighting charges in the traditional manner by hiring a lawyer.
The second case is curious though. It seems to suggest that OHHA can somehow prevent Woodbine from offering wagering on other tracks. Seems like quite the slippery slope. If OHHA were able to prevent Woodbine from offering parimutuel wagering, fans would be distressed and confused – like how can harness horsemen stop me from betting on Aqueduct? And surely this would create all kinds of ill-will with the thoroughbred horsemen, who get a certain share from the satellite wagering.
I offer no solutions. My racetrack skills start and end with the math necessary to wheel a couple of longshots. It does tell you that horse racing in Ontario still suffers from too many separate groups, each with their own vested interests.
Click here to subscribe to Gross' blog