Hoss Talk

   Whoa there, what's this about horse racing being subsidized by the government?

   Last week, while listening to a local radio station, a comment was made about the NHL becoming government- subsidized like other sports in Canada, among them horse racing.
   It was a remark worth looking into.

   ``We (Fraser Downs) are not subsidized by any means. Some people may think, with the pari-mutuel tax eliminated, that, in effect, the government is subsidizing the industry. Nothing could be further
   from the truth,'' said Chuck Keeling, general manager at the Downs.

   This return of tax money to the horse racing industry was  justifiable.

   ``For years, horse racing in this province was taxed on both their gross and net revenues. There is no other business on this planet that pays taxes on gross revenue. We, like any other business, are   more than willing to pay taxes on our net revenue,'' said Keeling.

   Meanwhile, in a ceremony befitting a superstar, Woodbine racetrack rolled out the red carpet Saturday for one of B.C.'s greatest athletes, jockey Chris Loseth.

   In a trackside ceremony before the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, Loseth  who's won more than 3,400 lifetime starts, was joined by fellow riders from the racetrack for the prestigious Avelino Gomez Award   presentation.
   The award is given annually to the person Canadian-born, Canadian-raised, or a regular rider in this country for more then five years, who's made a significant contribution to the sport.

   ``I have so many people to thank and I just don't know how to do it. It is such an honour, thank you so much,'' said an emotional Loseth before the Oaks.

   As for the Grade 1 Oaks race, hunch bettors who enjoy dancing hit the jackpot when Sam-Son Farms' promising filly Dancethruthedawn drew away handily to beat DancenintheSun, ridden by former  Exhibition Park jockey Mickey Walls.

   Wolski can be reached at www.sportofkingstv.com.
                          
 
 
 

Source: Vancouver Province
E-mail Tommy Wolski at twolski@home.com