Yves Filion takes care of horse Rebecca Bayama at the Bayama Farms in Lachute, Que. Many Quebec breeders are being forced to sell off their horses to slaughterhouses as the industry struggles in Quebec. (Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz)Quebec Won't Bet On Future Of Horse Racing -- CBC News
Government pulls support for plan to get hippodromes out of bankruptcy.
The finish line may be in sight for Quebec's four troubled hippodrome racetracks.
The Quebec government announced Friday that it is pulling its support from a plan to restructure Attractions Hippiques, the private company that sought bankruptcy protection last year.
The government was a major partner in the proposed restructuring plan.
Finance Minister Monique Jérôme-Forget said the government decided to pull out after associations representing horse breeders and owners rejected the plan put forward by the bankruptcy trustee.
She said the Quebec public is losing interest in horse racing, and so, too, is the government.
"Obviously, you cannot keep putting money down in that sector year after year after year. We are in the business of providing health care, education and roads. Frankly, it is not our business to support any kind of entertaining sector," said Jérôme-Forget.
In addition to pulling its support for the restructuring plan, the minister said Loto-Québec will take back more than 200 video lottery terminals if the racetracks close.
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Nowhere to run: Attractions Hippiques filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday and ceased all operations. Photograph by: John Kenney, Gazette file photo
