TheReview Wednesday, August 7,1991 — AQ0 © Where do your G Entertainment O Dollars Go? A CLOSE FINISH was the resulf in Sandown’s second race Saturday. A crowd of 1,350 bet about $111,000 at Sandown, where aifendance and the daily take is down from last year. Sandown in a slump by Girard Hengen The Review Crowds and dollar amounts are down at the Sandown Harness Raceway this standardbred season. Average attendance is down about 14 per cent from last year, and the average daily handle has dropped about 12 per cent. This downward spiral is evident at big tracks across Canada. Sandown president Jim Keeling Sr. says people today have less money to spend and more places to spend it. “Fellows who used to bet $10, now they're betting $2 and $5,” he said last week. Consumers are being whacked by the seven-per-cent GST, as are horse owners and trainers, who have to pay the tax on their operations, he said. The numbers “are down quite a bit, but I don’t know of any place that’s a half decent-size place that isn’t,” said Keeling. “T don’t see where it’s going to pick up this year,” he said. The standardbred meet winds up Sept. 8. Racing goes Thursday nights beginning at 7:30 p.m. and Satur- days and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Sandown office manager Jim McReavy said, “When you take seven per cent out of the economy, it’s going to cut something down.” He said major tracks are looking for ways to cut corners in their operations, but “we are pretty well to the bare bone here. “We haven’t anywhere to cut,” he said, noting Sandown has been taking steps over the years to trim its costs. He said average attendance per day as of July 27 is 1,230, com- pared to 1,650 last year. The per day handle of $111,000 is down from last year’s $126,000. Despite the gloomy scenario, Sandown fulfills a niche in the horseracing industry, offering sum- mer standardbred races. It also injects dollars into the Sidney economy. There’s every intention to forge ahead through the tough times. “T think we'll keep it going next year, as far as I know,” Keeling said. “Tt gives the horseman a place to race in summer....The top horse from (Sandown’s mainland sister track) Cloverdale is here. “They're really good races. There’s more cheaper races run over here, but they’re pretty well evenly matched in each class.” One bright spot for the Raceway is its increasingly popular buffet, served from noon to 2 p.m. Satur- day and Sunday and 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday night. The price is $10, plus GST. Div. 5 soccer tryouts Aug. 18 Soccer tryouts for the Peninsula Division 5 team are scheduled for Aug. 18 at North Saanich School. The open tryouts begin at 7 p.m. Those interested in competing as well as graduates from the Peninsula Juvenile program are welcome. Division 5 teams compete in the Vancouver Island Soccer League. For more information, call Tony at 656-6440 or Rick at 656-6076. othemwvise arranged. Custom charters & reservations [AV He pen Cruise Options from Sidney Thursdays & Saturdays 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM Treat yourself and/or your out of town guests with a day cruising the beautiful Gulf Islands. Explore the quaint shops of Ganges; take in the Arts & Crafts Show at Mahon Hall (renowned for its excellent quality and broad spectrum of unique, handcrafted articles produced by over 200 Gulf Island artisans). And, on Saturday, the Farmers Market! — Gost: $39.95 (single) includes G.S.T., ~~ am) & pm light refreshments Departures from end of ‘E* dock, Van isle Marina, Harbour Rd. unless Adult oriented* Gift Certificates « Low heels only « Licensed « Coast Guard approved IDEAL FOR ACTIVE SENIORS [fe e Dutch Baltic Tjalk e Fascinating History e Creature Comforts 656-1768 Public Fax Service Use our number, we'll call you when a fax comes in. SeaLine Fax Center 9764 Fifth St. - (at Bevan) Sidney, B.C. Phone 655-1900 RA 1 Sa Hist. 1917 Ssh & Chips DINE IN * DINE OUT LICENSED 656-0555 Mariner Village Mall, Sidney, B.C. > To the many individuals and businesses who recenily supported Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation Celebrity Golf tournament held at Glen Meadows Golf and Country Club on July 26th and 27th. MAJOR SPONSORS: Air Canada (official Airlines of the Tournament) Glen Meadows Golf and Country Club Molson’s Brewery HOLE-IN-ONE SPONSORS: Ensign Chrysler Big Boys Toys Menzies Marine/luttry & Mills Sidney Travel HOLE SPONSORS: Safeway Tidman Construction Brentwood Inn Pacific Parkland Properties Slegg Lumber Pharmasave Ltd. (#205) Peninsula Consumer Service (Co-op) Columbo's Steak House The Prairie Inn McCall Bros. Ltd. : Gray Beverages Lid. (Pepsi) Sidney Freight Ltd. Odyssia Restaurant Kipot Construction Westwind Estates Ltd. (Motel 66) Seaboard Properties Ltd. Tanner's A Book Store and More Mouat’s Trading Co. Ltd. Sidney Super Foods DONORS: Frank Gruber, Construction Ltd. G. R. Hunt Motors Goodman & Mott Woods Adair Royal Oak Glass Sears Canada Inc. Edgar and Miner Russ Hay’s Bicycle Shop GWG Rentals Nu-Way Cleaners Brentwood Shell Harvey’s Sporting Goods Golden Sheaf Bakery (1980) Ltd. Keating Self-Storage Facility Adera Nurseries Ltd. Vancouver Island Linen Supply Ltd. North Delta Copters Ltd. Payne’s Marine Supply Pelicano’s Karl Michel Studio Nicholson Manufacturing Ltd. Westwind Hardwood Ince. Marvin W. Argatoff Dr. Peter Culligan Dr. Richard Elder William McColl Colin McCullough the First Annual Gharles White Duff and Dorothy Waddell The Honourable Robert G. Rogers John S. Walton Hugh Morrison Dr George Bigelow Victor Painter Dr. John Mothersill Don Gowan PRIZE DONORS: Air Canada Sidney Tire Arbutus Ridge Golf Club Tsehum Sterndrive Saanichton Town Restaurant Roy’s Marine Services . Cordova Bay Golf Club Westport Marina McDonald Park Chevron Big O Tires Jack Lee’s Chinese Village Old Dutch Inn Jensen Marine Supply & Service Island Furniture Mart Ltd. Superior Collision Magic Colour Decorating Centre Times-Colonist Price Daxion Laidlaw. Waste Systems Ltd. Alberni Marine Transport Mike Parker Golf Pro Shop Dan Porteous Golf Pro Shop Arbutus Grove Nursery, Will’'s Barber Stylist Gurton’s Garage Oak Bay Marine Swedish Hair Design Port of Gall Hair & Beauty Care Flint Motors Focus 5000 Hair Designers Snapdragon Nurseries Discount Printing Trio Ready-Mix Pacific Seafoods International Pharmasave Drugs (Saanichton) Craig Rancher Golf Pro Shop Olympic View Golf Shop Dunsmuir Lodge Manning Press Ltd. Knight Signs Ltd. Andres Wines (BC) Ltd. Adera Nurseries Ltd. Mount Newton Greenhouses Brentwood Bay Nursery Ltd. Brentwood Bay Florist and Garden Shop Brentwood IDA Pharmacy Guardian Insurance Company All Bay. Marine Lid. SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN MAKING THIS EVENT AN OUSTANDING SUCCESS.