Horse Racing-Questions,Answers & Opinions #Louknows

This past week we took some time to ask a few questions of long time participant and horse owner Lou Sorella, who’s been involved with racing in Ontario for over 20 years. We thank Lou for his insights and personal opinions.

Is The Sport Of Horse Racing A Dying Industry

Horse racing is a sport that has a long history and has been enjoyed by many people around the world. However, in recent years, the industry has faced some challenges, such as declining attendance and declining interest from younger generations. Additionally, concerns about animal welfare have led to increased scrutiny of the sport. Despite these challenges, horse racing continues to be popular in many countries and there are many dedicated fans and participants who are working to keep the sport alive. It’s hard to say if the industry is dying, but it’s certainly facing some challenges.

What challenges does horse racing face?

Horse racing faces a number of challenges, including:

1.         Declining attendance: Horse racing events have seen a decline in attendance in recent years, which has led to a decline in revenue for racetracks and horse owners.

2.         Competition from other forms of gambling: Horse racing must compete with other forms of gambling, such as casino games and sports betting, for entertainment dollars.

3.         Increasing costs: The cost of breeding, training, and caring for racehorses has increased in recent years, which has made it more difficult for some horse owners to continue participating in the sport.

4.         Animal welfare concerns: There have been increasing concerns about the welfare of racehorses, leading to increased scrutiny of the sport by animal welfare groups and government regulators.

5.         Lack of interest among younger generations: Horse racing has seen a decline in interest among younger generations, which could impact the sport’s long-term viability.

6.         Legalization and regulation challenges: Horse racing faces legal and regulatory challenges from state to state, and country to country.

7.         Economic challenges: Horse racing industry was hit hard by the pandemic, with many tracks shutting down for months and many events being cancelled.

Overall, the industry is facing multiple challenges, and it will take a concerted effort to address these issues if the sport is to continue to thrive in the future.

How can we better market the sport of horse racing?

There are several ways to better market the sport of horse racing:

1.         Emphasize the excitement and thrill of live horse racing: Horse racing can be an exhilarating experience, and emphasizing the excitement and thrill of live racing can help attract new fans.

2.         Highlight the skill and athleticism of the horses and jockeys: Horse racing is a sport that requires a great deal of skill and athleticism from both the horses drivers,jockeys, and highlighting these aspects can help make the sport more appealing to a wider audience.

3.         Emphasize the history and tradition of horse racing: Horse racing has a rich history and tradition, and emphasizing this aspect of the sport can help attract fans who appreciate the sport’s heritage.

4.         Increase accessibility: Horse racing can be an expensive sport to attend, and increasing accessibility by offering more affordable ticket options, or simulcasting options can help to attract new fans.

5.         Offer interactive and educational experiences: Many people are fascinated by the sport of horse racing but don’t know much about it. Offering interactive and educational experiences, such as tours of the stables, or meet-and-greets with jockeys, trainers and horses can help educate and build interest.

6.         Use social media and digital platforms: Horse racing can be difficult to follow for those who are not able to attend live events, but by using social media and digital platforms, the industry can reach a wider audience and build interest in the sport.

7.         Promote responsible gambling: Horse racing is often associated with gambling, and promoting responsible gambling can help to attract fans who are interested in the sport, but not necessarily in gambling.

8.         Address animal welfare concerns: Addressing animal welfare concerns and being transparent about the care of horses can help to attract fans who are concerned about animal welfare and build trust among the general public.

Overall, by highlighting the exciting and athletic aspects of the sport, making it more accessible, and promoting responsible gambling, horse racing can attract a wider audience and build interest in the sport.

Can horse racing be sustainable in Ontario without the government funding?

It is possible for horse racing to be sustainable in Ontario without government funding, but it would likely be challenging. The horse racing industry in Ontario, like in many other places, is facing a number of economic challenges, and

government funding has played a significant role in helping to support the industry. Without government funding, the industry would likely have to find other sources of revenue, such as increasing attendance and revenue from other forms of gambling.

However, it is worth noting that horse racing is a complex and multifaceted industry, and government funding is only one aspect of it. There are other ways to make the industry more sustainable such as finding ways to increase the industry’s appeal to younger generations, promoting responsible gambling, addressing animal welfare concerns, and improving the transparency and uniformity of rules and regulations.

It would likely require a combination of these efforts to make the horse racing industry sustainable in Ontario without government funding. The industry would also have to work closely with the government and other stakeholders to develop a long-term plan to address the challenges it faces and to create a more sustainable future for the sport.

What does the future of Ontario Racing hold on the cards?

It is difficult to say exactly what the future of Ontario Racing holds, as it will depend on a variety of factors such as the industry’s ability to address the challenges it faces, such as animal welfare concerns and declining attendance, as well as the government’s policies and priorities towards horse racing.

One potential future for horse racing in Ontario could be a focus on smaller, more sustainable racetracks that prioritize the welfare of the horses and the experience of the fans. This could include a greater emphasis on interactive and educational experiences, such as tours of the stables and meet-and-greets with jockeys, trainers, and horses.

Another potential future could be a greater focus on simulcasting and online betting, which would allow fans to enjoy the sport from anywhere and could help to increase revenue for the industry.

It’s also possible that Ontario Racing could see a growth in the number of off-track betting facilities, which could increase revenue and help to attract a younger audience.

Overall, the future of horse racing in Ontario will depend on the industry’s ability to address the challenges it faces and to adapt to changing trends and technologies. The industry will need to work closely with the government and other stakeholders to develop a long-term plan that will ensure its sustainability for the future.

I personally believe to survive we need to address the current purse structure as we are currently racing horses on the “B” circuit for purse money that is less than it was 20 years ago.
Let’s give it some thought and instead of racing 4 B tracks in Ontario on the same Saturday night time slot let’s run a weekly fair circuit.
Why not take the purse money from 3 tracks on a Saturday and group those purses into one pool weekly. I believe a fair curcuit meet with the purse for that Saturday let’s say 120K ( 40K from the 3 tracks) give horsemen and women something to shoot for.
Example this weekend they race in Sarnia for 120K (10 races all going for 12K) in purses. Next week they move that curcuit to Kawartha Downs and the following week to another B track.
You can also restrict those entries to horses who have races 80% of their last 10 starts at a B track those forcing some of the power stables away from the entry box.
Let’s start looking on what we can do to keep owners and trainers in the game instead of chasing them out with $3800 purses.
Who would have imagined that $35,000 claimers would be racing on the B curcuit for $5,200 in purse money?
Not me thats for sure.