Warner spearheaded resurgence of horse racing in Manitoba

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This article was published 10/03/2022 (1653 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Harvey Warner, the man who spearheaded the resurgence of horse racing in Manitoba as the Chairman of the Manitoba Jockey Club (MJC) from the time of its formation in 1993 until his untimely passing at the age of 74 on March 9, 2022, will be fondly remembered by both horsepeople and fans, not only for his kindhearted nature, but also for his accomplishments.

At a time when horse racing is facing increased pressure from all sides, Assiniboia Downs has prospered and expanded, exceeding industry standards and becoming a rare mecca for fans and horsepeople from Manitoba, across Western Canada and south of the border.

It was three decades in the making.

Warner’s contributions to the horse racing industry in Manitoba and Canada were immense and will leave a lasting impact on the sport.

In 2020 he was honoured by the Jockey Club of Canada’s Stewards with a Special Sovereign Award, which recognizes significant contribution to the Canadian Thoroughbred Industry. As a horse owner, he achieved the pinnacle of success in Manitoba horse racing when he and his partners won the 1989 Manitoba Derby with Rough Catch.

Manitoba’s leading breeder, Cam Ziprick, was the assistant trainer for C.J. “Shorty” Gray, the trainer of Rough Catch, when Warner and his partners won the Manitoba Derby. He also trained horses for Warner.

“Winning the Derby with Rough Catch was the highest point in all our careers,” said Ziprick. “Nobody with a locally owned horse had won the Manitoba Derby since Merry’s Jay in 1976.”

“Harvey and I spent a lot of time together,” continued Ziprick. “He gave me so much advice when I was leaving the track to start the breeding business. On life in general, and on business. He was just a genuine guy who always wanted to help. He spent a good amount of time at the barn, and we spent many evenings at his place. We threw quite a few people in his pool over the years. He used to have the Derby party there.

“We were so close… just give me a minute here… we just drifted apart. You know, you start thinking about all those years. He was such a good guy that supported me from start to finish. And there aren’t too many people that were there from the start for me. When you surround yourself with good people, you have success. Harvey was one of those people. He wasn’t just an owner. He took me under his wing.”

Warner was always involved in partnerships on both yearlings and horses of racing age. Although Rough Catch was his best, there were numerous other winners and stakes winners, and all garnered the same attention from Warner. He loved horses.

Warner was one of the original architects of the non-profit Manitoba Jockey Club (MJC) in 1993, rescuing Assiniboia Downs and the horse racing industry from bankruptcy and slowly but steadily building it into the thriving success it is today.

As the owner of an already successful business, Westwood Esso, Warner and his newly formed board of directors immediately went to work improving the facility and the racing product for fans and horsepeople alike when they took over, with the first change being to endear fans to the track with free parking and admission.

The addition of VLTs helped the business stay afloat while the MJC reorganized and developed a strong management team headed by current CEO Darren Dunn and vice-president of finance and gaming, Sharon Gulyas, and the quest was on to develop the best racing product for its market size in the world.

“I lost a mentor and a close friend all in one phone call,” said Dunn. “In the responsible fashion he was always known for, he gave me a heads up text that he had chest pains and was going to the hospital to get things checked out. I wished him well and asked for an update when available, and that was my last contact with him. We are forever linked by the 1989 Manitoba Derby, my first Derby race call as the new track announcer, and unknown to me at the time was that we would go on to spend close to 30 years together strategizing in the best interests of our sport and Manitoba. He was an icon and will never be forgotten.”

The pillars for success were set early in the process under Warner, and innovations that are uncommon at racetracks continue today.

For horsepeople, they include the creation of shipping incentives for out-of-town horses; an Equiciser for jogging horses; waiver claiming rules that protect local horses from being claimed early in the season; and the use of a scientific device to monitor racing-surface moisture content to ensure optimal conditions and safety for the horses and riders.

For fans and bettors, innovations include a move to a Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday racing schedule, which reduced competition while increasing wagering; the creation of an onsite historical area that takes people back through the history of racing in Manitoba; the addition of HorsePlayer Interactive, Canada’s leading legal online horse wagering platform; and the expansion of the local racing signal into markets all over the world.

While his business acumen served the MJC well, Warner’s warm personality was another reason the business succeeded, especially with regards to the horsepeople. You can’t run a racetrack without horses and the people that love them. Or without fans.

Warner covered all the bases.

“Harvey was always horses and horsepeople focused,” said Manitoba HBPA President Blaine McLaren. “Everything he did was to help Assiniboia Downs succeed. He was always approachable, friendly and kind to the horsepeople. A lot of people are going to have fond memories of Harvey.”

“You could always find Harvey in the grandstand talking to someone,” said Assiniboia Downs Historian Bob Gates. “Fans would come up to him and ask questions and he would always have time for them. How many racetrack executives do you see in the grandstand or out on the tarmac talking to fans? Not too many.”

It all made a difference.

Attendance has increased every year over the past decade, and fans flock to the track from May to September for the competitive romance of live racing. Manitoba Breeders have invested heavily in new stallions and mares, and the Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale set new records last year. Horsepeople want to race here, and have repeatedly said they are treated better at Assiniboia Downs than anywhere else they have ever raced.

Warner’s dream in 1993 was to see horse racing flourish again in Manitoba. His dream became a reality. And he lived to see it.