The ‘Moving Ahead: Horse Racing Regulation in Ontario’ project began in June 2016 with the release of a detailed consultation paper. The consultation paper sought input and ideas on the steps the industry could take together to ensure fairness, integrity, and safety in Ontario’s Horse Racing Industry, while moving forward on opportunities to reduce the administrative burden on business, and support the long-term sustainability of Ontario’s Horse Racing Industry.
Since that time, the AGCO received 64 written submissions, engaged in over 50 conversations, and facilitated 17 Roundtable1 sessions across the province. The Roundtable sessions were attended by over 150 industry participants with representation from all three breeds and a broad range of industry positions, including owners, trainers, breeders, drivers, jockeys, grooms, and gate crew. The AGCO also hosted Roundtable sessions with veterinarians, horseplayers, equine welfare groups, breeders, track operators, the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA), AGCO Inspectors and Race Officials, and industry-related government ministries and agencies.
This engagement across the industry and with other government partners has generated many policy reform recommendations that will support the AGCO’s goal to have a horse racing regulatory framework that is simple, flexible and effective for both the regulator and those being regulated. It has also provided the AGCO with valuable insight into how our policies and procedures are serving the public interest in the context of the fairness, integrity and safety of horse racing in Ontario.
This Findings Report reflects the feedback that the industry has brought forward, either through formal propos- als in response to the consultation paper, verbal conversations, or during roundtable discussions. This report has been distributed to individuals, businesses, associations, and government bodies. You can also access the Findings Report online at the Moving Ahead webpage.
We hope you take the time to review this document and reflect on what Ontario’s Horse Racing Industry has brought forward, and we would once again like to extend a collective thank you to all of the individuals and organizations that dedicated their time, effort and energy to provide their input and advice.
See Appendix A for a full list of Roundtables.