December 12, 2025 – Horse Council BC is deeply disappointed by the provincial government’s abrupt decision to end slot revenue sharing with harness and thoroughbred racing. This is a major blow to an industry that has generated significant revenue for government, created jobs, and supported livelihoods across British Columbia. Making this decision without consultation and without considering its far-reaching impact on the equine community is unacceptable and creates serious uncertainty.
Slot revenue sharing was not discretionary funding—it was a structural commitment tied to the Province’s expansion of gaming. Reversing that commitment with minimal notice leaves the industry unable to meet obligations already in place and undermines the stability needed for long-term planning.
The sudden withdrawal of this revenue puts breeders, owners, workers, and rural agricultural businesses in immediate jeopardy. A transition plan proposed by the racing management group offered a constructive path toward sustainability and should have been embraced. Racing was not dying in BC—the refusal of Great Canadian and later Apollo to maintain essential infrastructure contributed significantly to the challenges the sector now faces.
Horses have long been part of British Columbia’s cultural and economic fabric—used for sport, recreation, therapy, agriculture, and police work. The disregard shown for the people and horses affected by this decision is both surprising and concerning to an industry that contributes more than $740 million annually to the provincial economy, with racing accounting for nearly 30 percent of that.
This decision threatens the cultural, economic, and community contributions that harness and thoroughbred racing have provided for generations. While we recognize the sector faces challenges, meaningful consultation, transparent communication, and collaborative planning are essential to protect the wellbeing of horses, riders, workers, and the broader equine community.
We urge the government to work directly with industry stakeholders to rebuild a path forward—one that supports a responsible, viable, and sustainable future for equine sport in British Columbia. Horse Council BC remains committed to advocating for our 25,000 members and supporting the continued vitality of the equine sector across the province.