To B.C. horse racing industry participants and media:

• Standardbred sector
• Thoroughbred sector
• Great Canadian Gaming Corp.
• Media and other industry participants


Industry Management Committee meeting

The B.C. Horse Racing Industry Management Committee met on Tuesday, January 20th, 2015.
Highlights of the meeting:

· The Committee gave final approval to the industry operating budget for 2015. This includes the Industry Marketing Fund, which will give top priority in 2015 to several horse population incentive programs for both breeds, up to a total of $265,000. The Committee has identified horse shortages as a critical challenge facing the industry. Consequently, guidelines have been put in place to ensure a continuing source of funding for further horse population incentives in the following two years.

· Committee chair Douglas S. Scott announced he will be leaving the Committee shortly. He will be replaced as chair by Jim Lightbody, Interim President & CEO of B.C. Lottery Corporation. Vacancies on the Committee will be dealt with in the coming months.

· Financial issues concerning the two breed sectors have been resolved. The Committee appreciates the active co-operation of all parties in order to achieve consensus on these and other issues.


Brian Butters
Director of Racing Sustainability
BC Horse Racing Industry Management Committee
January 23, 2015