Tracks respond to OHHA

In a press release issued by the Ontario Harness Horse
Association (OHHA) on March 13, statements below were attributed to Jim
Whelan, President of OHHA, which we believe demonstrate both a lack of
understanding of our position, and a lack of knowledge with respect to
both regulatory and private property law in Ontario.

1. "Every trainer who has received a positive test for Aminorex or any
other substance should not be found guilty without proper due process."

RESPONSE: We wish to reiterate that we do not accept entries from
trainers on whom the ORC has called positives for Class 1 or II drugs,
EPO or TCO2 violations until such time as their situations have been
resolved with the ORC.

Our decision to make an exception for the Aminorex cases only was based
upon the regulators' communication to us that this was a unique and
unprecedented situation in terms of the circumstances surrounding the
presence of the drug. They further indicated that it might require a
significant amount of time to resolve the issue and to issue a Notice of
Suspension and Hearing. For all other positives of the type referenced
above, our policy remains clear and will be strictly enforced.

Due process requires that the affected trainer be entitled to a
hearing. It does not mean that the trainer is entitled to race during
the period pending the hearing. When we are notified by the ORC Judges
that one of these serious positives has been called, we have the right
and indeed the duty to refuse entries if we believe that the result of
not doing so may be to expose our customers to fraudulent racing.

2. "I believe this situation highlights the need to have one regulator
making these kinds of decisions."

RESPONSE: Regulators have their powers granted by legislation.
Racetracks have rights granted by legislation and conferred by common
law. They are different in their nature and often complementary in their
use, but cannot be simply usurped one by the other.

3. "While racetrack operators were trying to uphold the highest
integrity of the sport, OHHA believes the integrity of the regulatory
process has been compromised."

RESPONSE: The integrity of the regulatory process is in no way
compromised by racetracks exercising their legal rights. It is their
duty and obligation to use whatever legal means are within their power
to protect the wagering public and honest participants from racing that
is fraudulent or that they suspect may be fraudulent.

Woodbine Entertainment Group
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation
Western Fair Association

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