Posted December 2, 2009

2010 Breed Improvement Program Details Announced: 

The 2010 Thoroughbred Breed Improvement Program has been approved by the HRA Board of Directors and contains a number of changes from the Breed Improvement Programs of the past. The allocation for the 2010 program is $2,913,475 contingent upon HRA receiving sufficient funds from the Alberta Lottery Fund. In 2009 the allocation was $2,930,000. To read the entire announcement, click here...

The program has been posted on the CTHS web site - for further information please click on the following link or check under Programs - Breed Improvement - 2010 BIP

Posted December 2, 2009

Fick Iuliano

IULIANO NAMED TO SUCCEED FICK

AS JOCKEY CLUB EXECUTIVE VP AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Matt F. Iuliano, who has served as vice president of registration services for The Jockey Club for the past eight years, has been named executive vice president and executive director of the organization, it was announced today by Ogden Mills Phipps, the chairman of The Jockey Club.

In his new position, Iuliano will continue to oversee all matters concerning The American Stud Book and he will represent The Jockey Club as it interacts with industry organizations. He succeeds Dan Fick, who has been appointed as an associate state steward for the Indiana Horse Racing Commission.

Iuliano will assume his new responsibilities on January 1, 2010.

Posted December 2, 2010 

Woodbine Chief Stepping Down

David Willmot, who led Ontario's horse racing industry from the brink of insolvency back to profitability, announced yesterday that he will resign as chief executive officer of Woodbine Entertainment Group.

When he took over 15 years ago, Woodbine was in such dire financial shape that Willmot recalls ordering that the art be sold off the walls of the directors' room to pay for track refurbishing. Today, the racing factory has 2,200 stalls, features some of the best trainers and horses in North America and has a daily handle of $2.5 million.

"When I came in we were close to bankruptcy," Willmot said. "The bank was going to call our loans. The morale was poor. It was: 'What am I doing in this contracting business?' What I'm most proud of is the confidence in horse racing has been regained by the province's owners and breeders."

Willmot will remain as chairman of the board with current president and chief operating officer Nick Eaves taking over as CEO next June.

"I'm at the long end of an appropriate tenure for any CEO if you want to allow for promotion within the management team," he said. "Also the CEO has to come to work every day with fire in their belly. I've still got a passion for the sport but the right thing for the company and industry is for Nick who's younger to take over. Simply put, you've got to get out of the way."

Willmot oversaw the industry's tie-in with slot machines. That brought bigger purses which led to better horses, trainers and jockeys. Woodbine became one of the first tracks with a synthetic surface and Willmot got its signal into the U.S. TV market.

"I'll probably miss it but," he said, "I have a wife who's already said: 'Do not interfere.'"

Reprinted from the Toronton Sun - December 5th, 2009

Work re-starting on the Alberta Downs Grandstand

The Red Deer Advocate reported on Tuesday December 8th that work is resuming on the Alberta Downs grandstand and owner, Robert Allen, is working to obtain approvals from the government for simulcast betting. Allen's original plan was to build a racing entertainment center with up to 150 slot machines but the provincial government is not licensing any more slot machines until a gambling review is completed. Alberta Downs was able to move forward with construction plans last month when Lacombe County signed a development permit allowing work on the grandstand to proceed.