News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

March 13, 2018

Manitoba Launching External Review of Horse Racing Industry

– – –
Request for Proposals Focuses on Financial Sustainability: Eichler

The Manitoba government is launching an external review of the horse-racing industry with the goal of identifying new opportunities to establish a more financially sustainable approach, Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler announced today.

“Horse racing is a well-established industry in Manitoba that provides provincewide economic benefit and entertainment opportunities,” said Eichler.  “While the industry has faced financial challenges, our government wants to find a sustainable future for horse racing in Manitoba.  It is our hope that this external review will reveal new opportunities for growth and long-term sustainability.”

The tender includes an operational review of stakeholders, potential synergies and other investors, alternative models, economic impacts, governance models, risk analysis and a detailed recommendation for a financially sustainable model.

An economic impact assessment of Manitoba horse racing, conducted in 2008 by PricewaterhouseCoopers, estimated at the time that nearly $28 million per year was spent on activities and operations associated with standardbred and thoroughbred horse racing in the province.  The assessment also determined that nearly 500 full-time positions were derived from horse racing in Manitoba.  In addition to the jobs and economic spinoff created by Assiniboia Downs, horse racing also produced positive benefits to host communities of races in rural Manitoba.  

The external review will be conducted following a public tendering process, which was posted today at www.merx.com.  The deadline to apply is March 27.

- 30 -