Marquis Downs cancellation protest continues; manager responds to group’s claims

A small protest drew honks of support under the overpass at the intersection of Lorne Avenue and Ruth Street in Saskatoon on Monday.

The group held picket signs to protest the cancellation of the 2021 Marquis Downs season, which was announced Thursday. Leading the group was Nicole Hein, an apprentice jockey in Saskatoon.

“I want to ride here, so I’m here sticking up for everybody,” she told 650 CKOM.

“It was the easy way out (for organizers to cancel the season). As I looked at the reasons behind why they cancelled, I thought, ‘These are invalid,’ and only people in the industry know that.”

Hein claimed Marquis Downs officials weren’t telling the whole truth to the public, citing claims of not enough riders, the ability not to simulcast or that “they don’t make much money out of it.”

“It’s damaging the industry further,” she claimed.

Hein said officials haven’t spoken to those in the sport, and have blocked her on the Marquis Downs Facebook page.

“I advocate for the industry. Yes, I’ve poked Prairieland a few times. But before that even, they told me I was part of the problem and I shouldn’t say anything,” she claimed.

Hein said the closure’s effect on horse racing has been “devastating,” even with a one-year break, let alone the two-year gap after the cancellations due to COVID this summer.

“So, two years. I can say with confidence there would be no industry to come back to Saskatoon; it would be gone,” she said.

When Hein was asked what message she wanted the protest to convey to passersby and Marquis Downs officials, she said that “people are watching.”

“And that’s not a threat,” she continued. “It’s not going to go away. I’m not going to stop until this is fixed. I shouldn’t be the one out here, honestly. I shouldn’t have to do this, but here I am.

“Other people outside of the industry now (see) what’s going on — we’re going to use that to fix it.”

Hein said the protests have been around four-hour stints, adding the group was at City Hall on Thursday. She said the protesters expect to be back out “here and there” for the next few weeks.

Marquis Downs responds to accusations 

“There were a lot of things that contributed to the closing of the season,” Marquis Downs marketing manager Kristy Rempel told 650 CKOM on Monday afternoon.

She said with public gathering restrictions still in place, 2021 wouldn’t have been a year where fans could be in the stands. She added that 76 per cent of jockeys at the track do travel from warmer climates, typically Trinidad and Tobago, all needing visas which are taking a long time to come through.

“The projected losses for our corporation are $2 million for the upcoming year,” she added. “Marquis Downs, historically, has lost money each and every year. Our losses, roundabout, (are) $500,000 per season.”

The track loses $500,000 even with gate admission, which then is something the organizers would lose out on if they decided not to open.

Rempel also said Prairieland Park “can’t run horseracing on its own,” explaining it’s a joint venture with the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA).

She said an agreement is not in place with the HBPA for the season.

“As late as the beginning of February this year, they actually pulled or rescinded their offer to us,” she said.

“Shortly after that … we were told that we should go ahead and cancel the season based on many, many factors.”

Rempel said she understands the horsemen are not happy with the decision.

“We are just putting out the information that we know to be true … Our team negotiates with their board every year, and we are not interested in getting into any personal back and forth,” she said.

In terms of the simulcast, “upgrades” haven’t been done as of yet.

“It isn’t just as simply as doing a live version of something,” she said, before explaining they would need something “insane to move forward” in terms of dollars.

“In a year where there’s no backup income, it’s just really hard to move forward without a loss.”

Rempel said communications with horsemen are through the HBPA board, and Prairieland’s role is to negotiate with that board.

“Unfortunately, if (the horsemen) don’t know what’s going on, they need to look to their board members for that,” she said in response to Hein’s claim.

The marketing manager wasn’t able to confirm if the Facebook page did block Hein, but added automatic restrictions — such as deleting comments — are in place if the user uses inappropriate language.