A story which hit some media that the Yorkton Exhibition Association will be hosting standardbred racing this summer is untrue says YEA general manager Shaun Morin.
"We're getting calls, guys stopping in the office saying 'hey you got your racing'," he said, adding , "No we haven't yet."
Morin said they have not given up on racing, but an announced funding cut by the province last spring has not been reinstated.
"We're working doing our best," said Morin.
The recent story in some media which seems to have people confused is an announcement the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SGLA) has approved 12 days of racing for Yorkton.
"They've approved our race days, but there's no money attached to that," explained Morin. "Every year we get approval for race days."
The approval secures the days and ensures no other standardbred races are held the same day in the province, and that SLGA is able to supply the necessary officials for those days, he said.
The YEA is continuing to work with the province to find a way to get funding dollars to hold racing and save the standardbred race sector in the province, said Morin.
In mid-January YEA officials met with Donna Harpauer, Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, as well as representatives of the ministries with the provincial government to offer up a proposal which if accepted would have a three-year funding package put in place to help the YEA transition to alternate funding sources, said Morin.
Morin said the meeting in January "went very well. We were really happy with it."
But he was quick to add nothing was finalized either.
"It takes times," he said, noting that Harpauer was keenly aware of the situation and told them to leave the YEA proposal with her so she could look into what might be done.
"She was quite open to the suggestions we made," said Morin, adding "now we have to give them the time to look at options to see if they can make it work for us We have to give the government time to see if it's possible they can help us."
Morin said he does not expect anything now until the provincial budget is released.
