Racetrack endorsed by council (Updated)

A drawing of the proposed Nipissing Raceway, which a development group plans to build on Birch's Road.
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They're at the post...well not quite yet.
A development group including North Bay resident Don Fudge wants to build a $15-million harness racing facility to be opened in 2006.

North Bay city council endorsed the proposal at its Monday night meeting.

250 jobs will be created
The group, which calls itself Nipissing Entertainment Inc.,
has already purchased 40.06 hectares of serviced land on Birch's Road.

It will call the course Nipissing Raceway, and it will feature a 5/8-mile racetrack, indoor grandstand, teletheatre, restaurant, 640-car parking lot and stables.

Fudge said 250 jobs will be created both at the track and at horse breeding and training operations that will provide the horses for racing.

"Nipissing Raceway will also provide the city with $300,000 in tax revenue yearly," Fudge said, "and provide a vital link between northern, eastern and southern Ontario racing industries."

Things have changed
As well, Fudge said, the racetrack will create spin-off economic benefits at local hotels and restaurants and for companies that provide feed and supplies for horses.

There hasn't been horse racing in North Bay since the close of the Sonny Dale racetrack in the '70s.

But things have changed since then said Richard Ciano, Fudge's business partner.

"Horse racing is healthy and strong in Ontario, you have things like the movie Seabiscuit that’s increased interest in horse racing of all kinds, we’re near a population base, and we think we can get the city engaged in horse racing," Ciano said.

"There's also a tourism base in the North Bay area which will be quite positive, you've got the four-laning of Hwy 11 coming, and we think the city will be very receptive."

Slot machines in the racetrack aren't part of the plans right now, Ciano said.

"We're strictly focusing on horse racing."

Create synergies
Ciano said horse racing in Ontario is $1.3 billion industry, "and that can’t help but create synergies between a new track in North Bay and the other tracks in Ontario."

Nipissing Entertainment Inc. plans to submit a formal application to the Ontario Racing Commission by the end of the month, and, if approved, construction will begin next spring.

All that would be required from the city end, Ciano said, would be rezoning changes. As well the racetrack would require federal licensing.

The racetrack would have races on Sundays in April and October, and then increase to two race days per week from May to September.