It is my belief that Mr. Seiling’s letter captures the essence of the current dilemma facing our horse racing industry in Ontario.

The confrontational, territorial ways of dealing with the situations such as this latest imbroglio between horsepeople and racetracks at Hiawatha Horse Park and Sudbury Downs must cease. We desperately need a more focused, co- operative approach to disagreements arising within our industry.

We should be encouraging people to participate in our sport instead of discouraging them by doing things like shutting down simulcast operations.

Confidence and enthusiasm are the greatest sales producers in any economy. How can we expect our customers (bettors) to have confidence and enthusiasm in our industry if we are continually squabbling with one another.

Ultimately, all of us want our industry to prosper. The best way to accomplish this is to remember that civility is not a sign of weakness and we in the horse racing industry must look at the industry to unite us instead of bemoaning the problems that divide us.

Partners can and will on occasion disagree but it is how we manage our disagreements that will benefit or harm our industry.

In order to achieve benefits for everyone a spirit of compromise and trust must prevail.

Please, let all of us work together to make our great sport of horse racing even greater!

Sue Leslie,

Chair & President, OHRIA

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