Kawartha Downs Harness Replays September 14, 2019 - Playlist. 10 videos Play all Kawartha Downs Harness Replays September 7, 2019 - Playlist. 9 videos Play all. “The time has come for us to start looking for dynamic, high-energy individuals who are driven by service excellence and want to join the Shorelines Casino family,” says Bryan Buchanan, General Manager of Shorelines Slots at Kawartha Downs, in a media release.

In November Valente said closure of the track was one option being considered if funding couldn’t be secured.

Dave Gibson, local representative for the Ontario Harness Horse Association, attended the cancelled conference and says he thought bad news was going to be announced.

“I would have thought this would have been the end of Kawartha Downs after this season,” says Gibson.

He also says he’s aware of discussions happening behind the scenes, but he hopes it’s leading to a better fate than the closure of the track.

“Without the Slots with 18 days of racing is it really going to be worthwhile for (the track) to continue on?” wondered Gibson.

Cavan Monaghan Township Mayor Scott McFadden says he suspects the original announcement was not good news, due to the lack of ministers or politicians present, as they usually are at funding announcements.

But he says he’s interpreting the cancellation of the event as a good thing.

“I do read into that as positive news,” he notes.

McFadden also says he thinks the provincial government may be stepping in to provide additional funding for Kawartha downs.

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According to racers, breeders, stable owners and trainers, since Ontario ended a program which funded race tracks with money from attached casinos in 2012, the horse-racing industry has declined significantly.

In November Dave Gibson said the industry was about 25 per cent of what it used to be. He also said changes would be needed to save the province’s horse racing.

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The casino has also been a major contributor to Cavan Monaghan Township, with it earning $3.3 million annually from the gaming centre.

That municipal revenue is expected to move to Peterborough when the city’s casino is completed in late 2018.