Hoss Talk

   In past years, the mere mention of a news conference at Hastings Park usually would generate enough interest to play a hand of bridge.
   
   That was then. This is now.

   Before a packed gathering of media personalities, Dave Willmot, president and CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, clearly laid out the plans for the new Woodbine Entertainment Group takeover of the   Vancouver race track.
   
   Willmot's presence along with members of the Toronto-based Woodbine Entertainment Group brought a long sigh of relief for those involved in thoroughbred horse racing in this province.
   
   The original talks between both groups began over 660 days ago.
   
   The constant delays often brought on by government red tape meant frustrations for many workers involved in the sport. Many felt the   pressures of not knowing how long their paycheques would be arriving.
   
   As each day went by with no deal, fear and impatience were running high. Thoroughbred horse breeders were cutting back on breeding their mares. Owners were taking a second look to see whether they wanted to remain in the sport.
   
   Horse racing in this province was on the brink of a nervous breakdown.
   
   "This is a great market for horse racing. We know horse racing has fallen on tough times but also the potential is here to revitalize it again," said Willmot.
   
   He is the first to admit to no miracle cure or instant fix.
   
   "The key is to get wagering money back up and not down. That will be done through our huge distribution network and market. From that will come higher purses, from that will come what horsemen want, which is confidence and faith in the viability going forward, which means they can buy horses, brood mares and invest in farms with  confidence," said Willmot.
   
   "There will be free general admission, also a very modern race book and simulcast facility at Hastings.
   
   "We will have the Hastings Park product on our distribution channel so more people will start wagering on it and purses will go up."
   
   Is there a mile race track in the plans?
   
   "The only way to make that possible, and that includes Frank Stronach's group or anyone else, is through major allocations of slot machines. And I do not mean 500 like they have in Calgary. It would have to be at least 1,500 slot machines as they have in Ontario," said Willmot.
   
RANT: True to form, the same fellow who did nothing to save baseball in this town and never supported basketball when it first arrived in his city, is at it again.
   
   On Wednesday, after the province took a giant leap toward adding major sports respectability with the Woodbine Entertainment-Hastings Park merger going forward, Vancouver Mayor Philip Owen began flexing his muscles with a rant on televsion about slot machines and horse racing.
   
   "They're coming into Vancouver knowing that slots are not allowed. That's a citizen's view and that's our council's view," said Owen.
   
   Which begs the question: Why? Willmot never mentioned anything at the news conference about having slot machines at Hastings Park.
   
FINISH LINES  The Sport of Kings, Saturday, 10 a.m., on CKVU-13 profiles Hastings Park jockey Pedro Alvarado. ... Saturday is the Kentucky Derby and since 1992 the Maktoum family of Dubai, Saudi Arabia, has averaged spending thousands a year without any success trying to win this race. This year their hopes go with Essence of Dubia who is 15-1.

   twolski@shaw.ca

 Wolski can be seen on the Sport of Kings, 10 a.m., Saturday CKVU.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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