A member of the Lakeshore Horse Racing Association is calling the latest funding announcement a disappointment.
The Ontario government has pledged $10-million a year to support horse racing in rural communities, but Tom Bain says Leamington Raceway didn't make the list.
Bain says, in additional to the funding snub, 55% of the money is going to thoroughbred racing despite the fact harness racers outnumber thoroughbred racers three to one.
He says it appears the funding is favouring tracks in the GTA.
"There's no thoroughbred racing down here in our area. We're totally standardbred with the local tracks of Dresden, Sarnia, London and ourselves in Leamington. So when you give all that extra funding to the thoroughbreds, that's heading in the Toronto and Niagara area."
Bain feels harness racing in Leamington isn't being taken seriously.
"We're really looking for some equality as far as funding goes and in the package that was presented, we didn't see it. We are trying to set up some meetings within the next few days to get more clarification and see what can be done to get in writing some help for down here."
Tom Bain and Mark Williams of the Lakeshore Horse Racing Association (AM800 file photo)
He says the 2019 race season will go on as planned.
"We're going to certainly continue with racing and we're going to continue to knock on doors in Toronto to try and get equal footing, as far as we're concerned, down here. So all we want is assurance that we won't be put out of business."
Bain says the association has been in contact with Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls who plans to take the issue to Finance Minister Vic Fedeli.
Leamington Raceway's 2019 season will include 13 race dates beginning Sunday, August 4.
According to Bain, betting topped $40,000 on several race days last year.