New race track operator visits Osoyoos to finalize details
[b]By Julie TurnerrnOsoyoos Times[/b]
Negotiations between the Town of Osoyoos and Rocky Mountain Turf Club CEO Max Gibb continued this week, as Gibb met with Council Monday to present his business plan, discuss a gaming plebiscite and begin lease discussions for Desert Park.
If he is issued a gaming licence from the B.C. Lotteries Corporation, Gibb's operation will see the return of live horse racing to Desert Park by next spring. Citizens will decide soon on the issue of allowing up to 100 slot machines at the facility, a revenue boost Gibb says is needed to make the operation viable.
We'd like to make horse racing a very live and vibrant activity and we're confident that will happen, said Gibb.
Gibb, who hails from Southern Alberta, has had a lifelong passion for horse racing and was a jockey in the B track circuit. His Rocky Mountain Turf Club, based in Lethbridge, is celebrating 10 years of success.
In the decade Gibb has owned the company, minimum purses have risen from $600 to $4,300, stakes programs have gone from $8,000 to over $800,000, and the club now boasts 50 horse races per year.
We're more than a $40 million economic benefit for Southern Alberta, and I see the same kind of potential here in this community. We want this to be the best B track in British Columbia and one of the best in Western Canada.rnGibb notes that beyond the horse industry, economic spinoffs will be seen in the local food and beverage, hotel/motel and tourism industries. Gibb expects his operation will employ some 30 full-time people in various positions, from the restaurant and casino to groundskeeping. It will also employ numerous horse groomers, owners, trainers and jockeys.
He anticipates a minimum of 15 horse racing events will come to Desert Park in the first year. In addition to horse racing and pari-mutuel betting, Gibb believes the facility will attract other activities such as chuckwagon races, 4-H shows, horse shows, concerts and other sports events.
The races will generate the revenue needed for capital and operational costs, and the municipality could also see a share of between $300,000 to $400,000 per year.
Gibb's assistant Rick Roberts toured the recreation complex on Sunday to get a sense of the building. He says he will look at both the history and the local colour of Osoyoos to come up with a design that will fit the character of the area.
I'm thrilled to have a guy like Rick Roberts working on a concept design for Desert Park. Rick is a film production designer and has worked on designing sets for movies like Unforgiven and Legends of the Fall. People will be proud of this facility and they'll want to see it. It will be a tourist attraction.rnRoberts said his role is to supply some inspiration and bring Gibb's vision to life.
I'll be discussing at length with Max the sorts of things he needs to get out of this space. This facility is in great shape. It's a shame it has fallen into disuse. It really just needs a little bit of cosmetic improvement here and there.
Gibb understands the controversy of bringing the casino to Desert Park, and says for the most part, the slots are enjoyed by recreational players. He says the club in Lethbridge has staff to monitor and counsel gamblers who get out of control.
Gaming, fortunately or unfortunately, is all around us. Just look at the 6-49 lottery, among others. It's a recreational event for a lot of people.rnHe adds his will be a community-minded operation and will support various charities. His goal is to make his operation a positive, well-accepted community facility.
Gibb says he plans to set up a storefront soon so that people can ask questions and find out more about the project.
People can drop in, have coffee and find out what we're doing. We also want to work with groups like the Osoyoos Park Society (Friends of Desert Park) to get the word out, and we'll have some people here from Lethbridge who are knowledgeable about what we will be bringing to Osoyoos.
