Proposal about harness racing, not gambling, VP says

Brock McEachern, vice-president of Horse Racing New Brunswick says his group's proposed development for downtown Fredericton is all about honouring the history of harness racing in the province, and very little to do with gambling.

While McEachern admitted the development will be home to video lottery terminals, he said the project is primarily meant to be a restaurant and sports bar, with simulcasts of horse races for fans of horse racing.

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"And I'm a little concerned about the fact they use the word casino a lot because it's really not a casino. It's a sports bar and eatery and it's going to have more than horse racing, although horse racing will remain our main focus."

He adds the focus is on honouring the sport, not on the gambling.

"As the planning advisory committee has said, it is very much on the low scale of that. It's not going to be an establishment where there's loud music and excessive drinking," he said.

Not a casino

McEachernobjects to anyone referring to the project at 440 Aberdeen Street as a casino.

He said it will be the furthest thing from a casino as far as he's concerned.

And contrary to public opinion, this won't be a new home for the existing Winner's Lounge at Fredericton's race track.

McEachernsaid this is a whole new, stand-alone operation. Hehopes it will one day be part of a string of similar horse racing sites around the province where fans can enjoy dinner and simulcasts of horse races, as well as have the opportunity to play VLT machines.

"There is drinking. It will also have a restaurant element as well and we're looking to make it accessible to everybody in thatneighbourhood. Local resident [RonSteeves]touched on the fact there are a lot of senior residents there and the senior residents are a big part of our clientele," saidMcEachern.

"I find it's the aging population that really enjoys watching horse racing, likes that low-key, quiet atmosphere and that's really what we're looking to bring there. Not so much the party atmosphere, I think that they're seeing."

Province-wide expansion

McEachernsaid the new site is an expansion of Horse Racing New Brunswick's operations and the group is looking to expand all over the province.

"We're currently in negotiations with several other places to try and take our simulcast outlets throughout the province and make it more accessible to people to be able to enjoy horse racing."

McEachernsaid opponents talk a lot about gambling but he points out that people can gamble at any store around the province with pull-tab scratch tickets and pro-line.

Fredericton's planning advisory committee will discuss the Horse Racing New Brunswick application at a meeting Wednesday night.

A final decision on the development will be made by Fredericton city council