Socred track record a betrayal IF THE current British Columbia government is defeated — as most observers predict — its handling of horse racing is unlikely to be even a foot- note in history. Gary Bannerman OPEN LINES But for the tens of thousands of citizens who derive income from the sport, the uncertainty, indecision, false promises and confusion in this sector have left the sour taste of betrayal. In 1983, then-attorney general Brian Smith announced that Brit- ish Columbia would develop a thoroughbred track to rival California's Santa Anita. The bold announcement — cheered at the time — simply locked the in- dustry into a vice grip of inaction. A new one-mile track would dramatically change the entire horse-racing industry, both thor- oughbred and standardbred. If the thoroughbreds moved to a new facility, it is highly likely that harness racing would move from Cloverdale to Exhibition Park. This is what happened in Toronto. When Woodbine moved to Rexdale, Greenwood Raceway took on a new life in the old downtown site. It is now one of the finest trotting and pacing cir- cuits in the worid. The facility enhancement of Cloverdale and Vancouver IsJand’s Sandown Raceway has been paralyzed since Brian Smith’s announcement. It would be sheer foolishness to make major capital expenditures before the future venue is known. The story of the Diamonds, Randalls and the B.C. Jockey Club is better known. Not only must they sit back in frustration while all sorts of instantly created groups bid to build a new one- mile track, their PNE lease is rap- idly running out. It is remarkable not that the Jockey Club facilities look a bit weather-beaten, it is amazing how good they remain in the face of perpetual uncertainty. The matter has been studied and studied and studied. The business of investigating and monitoring horse racing has become bigger than the sport itself. Elsewhere, being a track owner, a breeder, a jockey, a horseman or a trainer is what it’s all about. Tn Vancouver, you don’t buy silks. You put on a suit and tie. You become the chairman of a task force or a commission, The pari-mutuels are open. The race is: ‘Who gets to be a judge first?”’ Or, ‘Guess who the next solicitor-general will be?” Since 1986 there has been one task force, four separate cabinet ministers responsible for horse racing, and there have been two chairmen of the B.C. Racing Commission. Three times, pro- PROTECT YOUR LUNGS t British Columbia Lung Asscciation posal calls were made to those in- terested in a new track. Racing costs the government nothing. It rakes in the profits. The beaeficiaries include ran- chers, farmers, lawyers, bankers, printers, taxi drivers, landscapers, security guards, photographers, veterinarians, hundreds of seasonal staff, food and beverage suppliers and every type of con- struction trade. Money is circulated through the retail community like loose leaves in the path of a giant blower. Some sanctimonious souls worry about gambling. We all do, when it is abused. Government lotteries — the saintly moronic obsession — generate an explcsive $600 million per year. Racing also competes with bingo, roulette and sporting wagers. You don’t have to bet to be exhilarated by horse racing. Television ratings aptly demon- strate that. Did you ever try to watch a lottery? The latest government bomb- shell to land on horse racing came in the form of a cabinet non-deci- sion on the issue of teletheatres. A teletheatre is a tasteful res- taurant or lounge environment with a large screen and a pari- mutuel setup, Live horse races would be featured, just as if a patron were at the track. Cloverdale, Exhib- ition Park or Sandown racing would be televised by closed cir- cuit to theatres throughout the province. About three years ago, the fed- eral government approved of the teletheatres, subject to the discre- tion of the provinces. Both James Keeling Jr. of Cloverdale Raceway and Merv Peters of the B.C. Jockey Club petitioned the B.C. Government to act. And thus began a mind-numb- ing display of deceit and cowar- dice. Meanwhile Alberta moved in dramatic fashion. There may be 20 teletheatres in operation in that province this year, adding not an- ly to the government and track profits, but substantially enhanc- ing the rewards for those who breed, train and race horses. The Alberta industry is boom- ing, and British Columbia languishes. The B.C. Tracks asked the gov- ernment only to pass the buck. To allow teletheatres subject to local approval. If a community didn’t want one, it would never open. instead of choosing this way to weasel out of the issue, the gov- ernment decided to bring weasel- ing to a new level of suffocation: it assigned Chairman Robert Bonner and the B.C. Racing Commission to trek around the province holding hearings on teletheatres. Even Bonner was embarrassed by this request. But the commis- sion went dutifully on its way sit- ting in empty rooms allegedly listening to the public. In its report to government, the commission recommended teletheatres. This was a problem. The gov- ernment would have preferred that the study took 10 years to com- plete. All this occurred at a busy po- litical intersection. As the ghost of attorney-general Brian Smith looked down upon the departing solicitor general Angus Ree, Russ Fraser zig-zagged into view. He settled into the solicitor- general’s chair while then-attorney general Bud Smith's cellular broadcasting career added a dimension of soap opera to it all. Sunday, March 17. 1991 - North Share News - @ A Place To Go When You're Pregnant And Need Support: | GIRTHRIGHT | H 987-7343 « Free Pregnancy Test » In Vancouver Call o B E North Vancouver 687-7223 PaRnciPacrion ee « Just as solicitor-general Fraser was learning the difference be- tween a deputy commissioner and an assistant commissioner of the q RCMP, and that Police Inspector 229 Lonsdale was a great horse with a direct link to the Bennett family, he also became attorney general. And now horse racing has been assigned a new minister named ivan Messmer. The sport would rather meet a new government. Make your move. Our Troubled Health Care Sysiem WILL It SURVIVE? Tz troubled outlook for our health care system is the subject of a public meeting being put on by the North Shore New Democrats’ Educational Committee. Wednesday, March 20, 1991 — 8:00 p.m. Cedar Room (North Bldg), Delbrook Community Centre 660 W. Queens Foad, North Vancouver CATCH A. 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