Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Help for Racing in New Brunswick

June 6, 2007

In a sure sign the horse racing industry will be a partner in the forthcoming provincial gaming strategy, N.B. Agriculture Minister Ronald Ouellette will announce today the New Brunswick government is contributing more than $1 million to purse money over the next three years.
This year the province will make a $300,000 contribution to purses for the remaining races at the province’s three tracks - Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, Fredericton Raceway and Connell Park Raceway in Woodstock.

That amount will increase by $60,000 in 2008, and 2009 to cover purses for the entire race season. The money will allow track operators to raise purses by an average of $300 per race, making them more competitive with neighbouring Maine and Prince Edward Island, where horse racing is booming following the introduction of racinos.

Currently purses in New Brunswick range from $600 to $1,500 depending on the quality of horses in a given race.

"I think this shows a willingness to help the horse racing industry sustain itself and I’m confident that when they do announce their gaming strategy, that there will be some mention of horse racing," said Ross Galbraith, chairman of the New Brunswick Horse Racing Industry Association.

"We’ve argued that horse racing should be included in a comprehensive gaming strategy and clearly if government provides some interim support to our industry to help preserve the jobs, it would look to us like part of a bigger strategy that may recognize horse racing’s place and the role it can play as a major employer," said Galbraith.