Ajax — Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario Inc. is congratulating Doug Ford on his party’s election win last night and welcomes new Ajax MPP, Rod Phillips.
“Both Doug Ford and Rod Phillips have demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting the quarter horse racing industry in Ontario and we will be pleased to work with them to protect Ajax Downs and ensure this important component of our rural economy can grow again,” said Bob Broadstock, President of the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario Inc. (QROOI)
Quarter racing has faced an uncertain future, following the Liberals plans to close Ajax Downs when a casino at Durham Live! is built sometime in the future. Supporters of quarter racing worked hard to make sure voters in area ridings knew that the Ontario Liberals had abandoned the 1,700 jobs that rely on quarter horse racing continuing, and to make sure that Ajax voters knew almost $8 million dollars of revenue sharing for the town was at stake because of the past government’s decision.
Rod Phillips and Doug Ford each expressed support for maintaining Casino Ajax, which is necessary for Ajax Downs to remain viable for quarter racing, during the campaign.
The announcement to restore slots at racetracks program creates another opportunity to protect Ajax Downs, absent of an agreement to with Great Canadian Gaming to keep Casino Ajax open.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do, and not much time to do it, but the future can be bright for quarter horse racing in Ontario, providing OLG and Great Canadian Gaming come to the table with the new government, the track owners and quarter horsemen, Broadstock added.