The horse racing industry in Ontario is about to get a major boost.
In a CTV London exclusive, Queen's Park will announce Monday that the government will commit an additional $100 million to help the hard-hit industry.
It's a move designed to do more than support horse racing but to pave the way for a winning future.
The news is good for trainer Linda Yake but is concerned it may be too little, too late.
"Probably five years ago, we were racing 7 horses and training 9 or 10 and today that's down too, we have 2 in training," says Yake.
Two years ago, the government abruptly ended the Slots at Racetrack Program, taking $345 millions out of the game and putting thousands of people out of work.
"Now that the industry has been dismantled, it's like burning down a building and saying you'll rebuild it. It takes much less time to burn down the building than it does to rebuild it," says Yake.
On Monday, race dates will be announced for several tracks across the province and the government is increasing its 5 year commitment to a half billion dollars.
That means $100 million in annual, direct funding.
It will bring the commitment much closer to the $345 million the industry used to receive.
But it's money that's coming too late for many, like the Yakes -- who after 18 years are being forced to literally sell the farm.
They're hanging up their harnesses but hoping that the new money will give the industry the kick it needs to keep running.
"It's good to see that there's some movement in that respect, because originally we were told we would get nothing and deserved nothing," says Yake.
