Courtesy of The Derby Bar and Grill Newsletter
From an imposing organization enjoying some of its best years of horse racing in its history to the headlines yesterday that the company is reeling from several events including the impending end on March 31 of the slots-at-racetracks program.
This is a horrible situation for the Ontario thoroughbred industry, almost as bad as when the end of SAR was announced a year ago and the bottom fell out of our breeding industry. The breeders have felt it bad, now the 2,300 people who have been working at Woodbine are feeling it.
109 are no longer with the company, a list that includes longtime media and sponsorship manager GLENN CROUTER, media office worker ASHLEY MAYOTTE, a litany of TV department people including RENEE KIERANS, DAVE FREY, VP’S such as ANDREW MACDONALD and BRUCE MURRAY and the very popular JANETT MULLEN.
Another crucial move is the cancellation of the popular show BET NIGHT LIVE, which was on a couple of times a week for TB and standardbred racing, bringing in people from all over to learn about the game and watch JIM BANNON, SANDY HAWLEY, JASON PORTUONDO AND LAURA DYKEN discuss racing and betting.
So far, the layoffs, retirements have been coming in dribs and drabs and it is not certain if there are any more to come.
February 14, 2013 at 3:45 pm
And what about Dawn Lupul, she is a trainer, she can do without the job. What about the associations like HPBA and OHRIA, are they going to get rid of some useless people too?
February 18, 2013 at 3:43 pm
It feels like a great loss to me that the Bet Night broadcasts for standardbred and thoroughbred have been cancelled. I am one of those brought into being a passionate fan of horseracing through the Bet Night Live shows and the wonderful education the team of broadcasters gave to the new viewers of this sport. I always felt proud of the way Woodbine in particular was profiled as well as our top Canadian drivers and jockeys. This program is sadly missed and I hope it can be reinstated.
February 19, 2013 at 12:31 pm
I would gladly pay to watch Standardbred racing, unfortunately, this is not an option where I live. This show was about my last refuge and I will miss it greatly. My “The Score” watching time will be falling to near zero as I do not watch Baseball or Hockey (labour BS), Basketball (just BS period),
wrestling (or the various MMA stuff (surely you jest)
soccer? (or poker) I would rather watch paint dry.
What is there left? oh not much..
So good luck with your network, feel free to let me know when I can watch racing on your net again.