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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News-Record, 1987-09-02, Page 15The Goderich Township Bantam Boys are again the Huron County Inter Township Recreational Baseball Champions. This is the third year in a row that they've won the ti- tle. They've been champs for four out of five years, and finalists another year. The 1987 team members are, front row, left to right, Mark Penning and Jason Potter. Back row - Ian Koetsier, Andrew Dykstra, Coach Jack Mayhew, Barry Diehl, Mark Ritchie, Daryl Hemmingway, Everet Ridder, Josh Feltham, Jason Cox and Derek Bradshaw. Horse racing is alive and growing in Ontario Two events, not two weeks nor 100 miles apart, represent both ends of what is, by world standards, the incredibly large scale the sport of horse racing represents in the province of Ontario. One of the most prestigious and ex- hilarating events in the world is the Queen's Plate attended by more than 25,000 spec- tators including the Royal Family. The other is "Fair Day" in Sutton, Ontario, equally exciting to the 500 enthusiastic harness racing fans. Be it harness horses at the Sutton Fair racing for a purse of $300 and a horse blanket, or the thrilling stretch drive of the 128th running of the Queen's Plate at Wood- bine, there are more racing dates (thoroughbred, standardbred and quarter horse) in the provinces of Ontario than in any other state or province in North America. The three thoroughbred tracks, and the 17 standardbred (Horses that race in harness behind a sulky) facilities conduct over 1900 race cards per year. That is, in all likelihood,more than in any other jurisdic- tion in the world. Those 1900 race cards mean big business for the Ontario government, and a big boost for the economy of the province. According to the Ontario Racing Commission ( the government agency that oversees and ad- ministers all racing in the province) $828,082,671 went through the mutual machines in 1985 (the last year that figures were available). When you consider that the Ontario government takes out between seven and nine cents of each wagered dollar, you can certainly see just how impor- tant an industry horse racing has become. A study done by the Woods Gordon management consultants group dated February, 1986, estimated the "total annual economic impact" of the horse industry in Canada to be approximately $3.8 billion - an amazing figure. The same study found 100,000 people in this country ( excluding owners) we employed by the horse industry, and an additional 20,000 people who indirect- ly serviced the industry. It is little wonder then, that when the rac- ing industry indicate,d to the Ontario govern- ment that some form of subsidy was necessary to increase the attractiveness of physical plants, as well as strengthen the marketing or racetracks to the general public, the Liberals responded with a $40 million shot in the arm. While the Racetracks Assistance Program has been far from perfect, for many of the tracks around and province, it has been the catalyst for a record year of increased at- tendance and wagering. For the Ontario government, it was simply a matter of solidifying an extremely important revenue generating industry. The joy, fun, and excitement that goes along with the sport of horse racing cannot be measured in figures, never -the -less, it is still the main reason people return again and again. The attraction of new fans to the sport of horse racing will be the key to the industry's success. Attendance and handle are up in 1987, and that is a good sign for the industry and the twenty operating race tracks across Ontario. A good sign too, is the packed grandstand at Woodbine and the crowded bleachers at the country fair in Sutton. Both mean racing is alive and growing in Ontario. Successful standardbred breeding farms in southwestern Many of the most recently successful standardbred breeding farms can be found in the southwest corner of Ontario. Seelster Farms, in Lucan and Killean Acres in Inger- soll. may not yet rival the powerful Arm- strong Brothers operation that rolls "forever" along Highway 10, but for these newer" breeders, prepotent sires and superlative marketing and promotional skills have certainly made them a force to reckon with. Armstrong Farms, for its part, looms as a world-wide leader in the breeding of stan- dardbreds. In 1986, Armstrong Brothers were second only to the giant Hanover Show Farms of Pennsylvania in money won. Three hundred and sixty nine "Armbro..." horses went postward across the continent and between them they won 879 races and $6,478,426 worth of purse money. While many of the Armstrong horses were conceived and will sell in the United States, the lucrative Ontario market is also a strength of the organization. Both the top ranked trotting stallion (Dream of Glory) and the top ranked pacing stallion (Armbro Omaha) stand at the Inglewood farm. Off- spring of both these sires often average over $25,000 at the Ontario yearling sales. Prices of standardbred yearlings have Ontario risen steadily since the inception of the On- tario Sires Stakes program. The OSS, which returned $7.4 million to owners of winning horses in 1985 has been the major catalyst of this tremendous increase. When the pro- gram was introduced in the late 1970's the average price of yearling at the CSHS (Canadian Standardbred Horse Society ) yearling sale was just over $3000. Now the Canadian Classic, held each September, averages over $15,000 per head. The figures for the thoroughbred side are even more staggering. The average price of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society's Woodbine Select sale was over $50,000 per yearling. Total sales for that single event were over $11,000,000. The economic impact of the sport is ob- vious. In terms of spectators and their total expenditures, the scope of horse racing in Ontario grows even greater. The Woods Gordon report of February, 1986 indicates that over 16,000,000 attendances across Canada grossed a total '`spectator expen- diture" of $428 million. Ontario, being the largest jurisdiction, makes up the greatest part of those figures. Without a doubt, horse racing is a major contributor to the economy of Ontario. Any size fish can be a winner in contest Administrators of the Molson Export Big Fish Contest have discovered that there are still some anglers who think they must catch a Whojper to win the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters' Grand Prize Draw. "Not so!", says Lance Males, Contest Ad- ministrator. "Winning the OFAH Grand Prize Draw is entirely a matter of luck. Every Ontario resident angler over 19 who enters a fish -any size fish -according to the rules of the Molson Export Big Fish Contest, has the same chance. Since this is the first year for the OFAH Grand Prize Draw, we expected to have to do some extra work to make it clear who was eligible. But we don't want anyone to miss out on the chance to win a Dodge Dakota pickup truck, a 15' Stryker bass boat and trailer, and a 70 h.p. Evinrude motor, if they've caught an eligible species of any size! 6 CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1987—Page 15 WASN'T THAT A PARTY! Thanks! to our many customers, neighbours and friends for helping us celebrate our 20th Anniversary in business SPECIAL THANKS MUST GO TO: •The Fleming Ball Hockey Team for setting up and manning the refreshment booth. •The Fabulous Fowl ups, their wives, and children, for table set up Thursday and then their efficient serving of all the food. • Gerry Blake, Ed Bezaire, Bill Lobb and Jack Tebbutt for cooking the pork. • The wonderful Fleming Feed Mill family for making a seemingly impossible catering job appear easy and fun. Ps - Congratulations • • • •to our �lem- ho put forth Ing Bale earn who effort all daV3 a tremendous the m Saturday n ent. Just get - pitch TO he Diamond was a ting to feat worthy of recognition let the A finals! alone getting to Bill, marg, Ian Jim Dl 4 w PRIZE w� •Bobs and pat WINNERS VV�R� and Ka am pbell d *Sandy and Anne Abell *Sp nanand WillyReiniok s d Verduna�0or •J• ad Vann Nee Sandra walkVansts e contest species include Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Walleye ( Pickerel), Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Speckl- ed Trout, and Salmon. Fish must be caught in Ontario waters, and may be entered in either the Live Release Category or the Catch and Keep Category. No entry fee is required. Rules for the contest and the draw are outlined on every Molson Export Big Fish Contest entry foe m. Entry forms are available from all Molson representatives, Chrysler dealers, Evinrude dealers, Cana- dian Tire stores, most lodges and resorts, or from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, PO Box 28, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 6Y5, or (705) 748-6324. 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