I used to own and breed standardbred racehorses. These are the horses who race behind the sulky or cart. Given the wagering aspect of the sport, it is a highly regulated industry. Thus, many elements are mandated by law or regulation.
Standardbred Canada, the governing body for the sport in our neighbors to the north, reports that the Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA) has agreed to mediation and possibly arbitration to work out a contract with the owners of Georgian Downs, a racetrack located about 50 miles north of Toronto.
A contract between a racetrack and horsemen would typically cover things such as the purse structure, sharing of gaming revenues from slot machines, number of racing days and provisions for horsemen such as stabling or insurance.
“The two sides have agreed on a mediator and talks have been scheduled for February 27 and March 1,” a release from OHHA stated.
“If mediation is not successful OHHA members have overwhelmingly supported going then to arbitration where a final decision would be made.”