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B.C. Horse Racing Industry Revitalization Initiative

Background

In response to a request from the B.C. horse racing industry, the Minister asked the Assistant Deputy Minister/General Manager responsible for gaming to assist in revitalizing the management of the industry by establishing the B.C. Horse Racing Industry Revitalization Initiative in Spring 2009.


Achievements

The B.C. Horse Racing Industry Management Committee was created on November 17, 2009 to provide strategic direction, decision-making and business leadership to the horse racing industry in B.C.

Horse racing operators, associations and participants will continue to make operational decisions consistent with their mandated responsibilities, but are to do so within the broad business and fiscal framework established by the committee.

The regulation of horse racing events in B.C. remains the responsibility of the provincial government. (See November 17, 2009 News Release from Minister and December 9, 2009 committee letter to industry and Industry Governance Model below)

Since its inception, the B.C. Horse Racing Industry Revitalization Initiative has:

  • Established a new B.C. Horse Racing Industry Management Committee;
  • Established a new business model and implemented new business practices for the industry;
  • Implemented an entirely new, simplified, transparent and accountable financial model and financial process which includes financial controls, reconciliation, reporting and audit;
  • Reconciled industry finances and stabilized industry funding by introducing non-deficit funding and eliminating industry debt;
  • Allocated set funding to each of the industry sectors for 2010 and managed fluctuations to these allocations through the course of the year;
  • Implemented a structured approach to racing purses, days and seasons which uses performance measures to determine and manage these events;
  • Commenced initiatives to enhance both industry marketing and simulcast racing;
  • Significantly improved the relationship between industry organizations;
  • Improved the communications between these organizations and between these organizations and the committee;
  • Allocated set funding to each of the industry sectors for 2011, which includes an increased and consistent government grant to horse racing beginning in 2011;
  • Pursued an increased focus on improving and growing the industry in the future;
  • Conducted extensive stakeholder consultations with breeders, owners, drivers, jockeys, grooms, trainers, host local governments and all other interested parties; and
  • Initiated the development of a long-term business strategy for the industry for presentation to the minister.

Communications to the B.C. horse racing industry

Letters and other communication items related to the B.C. Horse Racing Industry Revitalization Initiative are available below:


Documents and reports

Documents and reports related to the B.C. Horse Racing Industry Revitalization Initiative are available below:

Horse racing industry management committee:

Horse racing industry finances:

Horse racing industry business planning:

Records of decisions from meetings of the B.C. Horse Racing Industry Management Committee:

Note: as of mid-February, 2012, records of decisions will be posted as industry notes in the 'Communications to the B.C. horse racing industry' section above.

Meeting presentations:

Note: Information in the meeting presentations may be outdated by information in letters, notes and records of decisions that were posted after the meeting (see other sections on this page).


Contact information

For more information about the B.C. Horse Racing Revitalization Initiative, contact:

  • Brian Butters
    Director of Racing Sustainability
    BC Horse Racing Industry Management Committee
    E-mail: bbutters@bclc.com
  • Rick Caulfield
    Policy Analyst
    Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch
    E-mail: Rick.Caulfield@gov.bc.ca