Published: September 15, 2009 11:29 am ET

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On Wednesday September 9, the British Columbia Standardbred Breeders Society and British Columbia Standardbred Association voted 84% and 92%, respectively, to amalgamate to form Harness Racing BC.

The move will give the current boards of each association the mandate to set a date and put in place the new constitution and bylaws approved at the meetings by special resolution in compliance with the Societies Act of BC.

“Amalgamation of the two societies will streamline our administration and simplify our current negotiations with government under their new proposed financial model for the horse racing industry,” said BCSBS executive director Rod Hare, who will be performing the executive director role with Harness Racing BC.

According to the harnessbc.ca website, the final step in maximizing the voice that harness racing has with BC provincial government is to make it mandatory that every participant in racing in BC, in whatever capacity they participate, become a paid-up member.

Membership is only $20 per annum. It is being urged that all harness racing participants become members by Thursday, October 15, 2009 in order to ensure that the submission to government with respect to 2010 funding carries as much weight as possible, numbers wise.

(With files from harnessbc.ca)