Strange Doings at ASD

[notoutofpounds]

Some odd news in the local paper today. Looks like our (very) socialist (unfortunately) provincial government is up to some shenanigans.

NDP = No Downs Party :ThmbDown:

Something does not add up here. It is hard to take the Socialists/ Red River Ex seriously when one of the main tenets of their takeover is a revamped sewer :bang:

A bar and a restaurant......hmmmm....... think they have one of each already.

Something stinks in this story and I do not think it is the sewer.


http://www.winnipegsun.com/2013/01/30/jockeys-not-consulted-about-red-river-ex-takeover-plan

[sandpit]

The comments in the article don't paint a very good picture of the track's current management.

[Sysonby]

Well, the first post in this thread tells us more about your bias than anything else.

Frankly, I'm interested in any plan that keeps the track open.

[Jay Trotter]

I can see the merit in combining the two organizations. It would be great if they were able to build a top notch hotel facility, get a full scale casino up and running, better coordinate the racing schedule when the Ex is running, etc.

However, for track management to hear about the Ex's interest in the paper is pretty low. Current track management is excellent and I'm sure very open to sitting down 'over a cup of coffee" to discuss possible scenarios. Why this surprise was announced the way it was is inexcusable.

My main concern would be whether or not the "racing people" would be left in place to run the "racing product".

[Sysonby]

Apparently, the informal approach had been tried without success before this happened.

[ArlJim78]

Whatever they work out with the sewer or casino, I hope one thing that they address for the track is better lighting. It's so dark that when they come down the stretch at ASD I can't make out anything on the saddleclothes in terms of numbers or colors. too many shadows.

[bob60566]

Intresting peices from the article

Red River Exhibition Association’s proposal to take over Assiniboia Downs to save it from almost-certain death.

“If we don’t start working on this (plan) now, by March, the Downs will be bankrupt,” Rogerson said.

Al we need is someone to say the dreaded words is this true Yes or no or this to me is another track headed like Fort Erie.

[Sysonby]

I think it would be great to have the place spruced up and put on another footing. Also, in Manitoba, there have been standardbred tracks that have shut down so if part of the plan is having some harness racing at ASD, that would be good for those folks and the agricultural people who provided them with goods. Maybe it could work like Woodbine, with harness racing in the evening and thoroughbred in the afternoon. I'd love to see a turf course as well, but now I'm probably dreaming.

[maclr11]

I wouldn't believe everything you read and red river is not good for the downs
I guarantee that
This story has way more moving pieces than anyone can understand
But im not scared of losing our meet thats for sure

[notoutofpounds]

I think that the Red River Ex should give up on coveting their neighbor's VLT's. They should stick to the attractions that they are best at like chickens that play tic-tac-toe, tiny greasy donuts, ferris wheels, and carnival games. Rogerson speaks of promoting major concerts but books Hotel California (The Eagles Tribute Band), Platinum Blonde, and April Wine at his own venue :lol:

I would like to see MJC make the neighborly gesture of shutting down most of their parking lot (leave enough spaces for the horseplayers) and repainting the parking lines sometime in June 2013. Good luck parking those carnival goers cars Red River EX. :lol: