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One simple piece of paper has given the Alberta racing industry a massive shot in the arm.
The provincial government sent a letter to Horse Racing Alberta - the governing body of the sport - last week, stating the racing industry will receive a 10-year extension on its slot-machine contract.
In other words, providing HRA continues to meet its annual financial performance measures with the government, slot machines will keep humming in racetrack grandstands until at least 2015, providing critical stable revenue to the sport.
"Without this slot deal and the vision of this government, we would be racing for a third of the purses we are right now," said Ted Billo, the executive director of the harness horsemen's group.
"And you would have to question if we would have an industry (right now)... if we would be racing for a third of (today's) purses."
There are nearly 1,000 slot machines at the province's four racetracks, including 625 at Northlands.
The racing industry receives 51% of the revenue from the majority of those machines. In 2005, that amounted to $41 million, with a significant chunk allocated to purses - which drives the sport.
Big purses mean racehorse owners, trainers/drivers and breeders can make money.
During the current Northlands harness meet, horsemen compete for $75,000 per day, meaning purses would drop to $25,000 if slots disappeared.
That would be a crippling blow to the sport with owners unable to make money, causing horses and horsemen to flee the province.
Before last week's announcement, the sport was dealing with short-term contracts, which was causing problems.
To be blunt, the sport's future was up in the air and investors were sitting on the sidelines.
"Everybody was sitting on the edge of their seat, wanting to know: is this an industry they can truly invest in?" stated Dr. David Reid, HRA's chairman.
With no reasonable guarantee of future purses, owners and breeders were understandably nervous to buy better stock.
But with a 10-year deal, purses will remain strong and investment will grow.
However, the new agreement will bring criticism about why government is supporting racing instead of pouring more money into education or health care.
But Dr. Reid is ready for the critics.
"The contract is nothing about giving money. It simply says we can have the tools and make sure you use them wisely," he remarked.
"We earn the money (through marketing and operating slots) and in the process we're supporting the Alberta Lottery Fund and generating an annual economic impact of $355 million.
"That means we have been able to give the government $9 for every $1 they invested in us."
That math is based on the $41 million in revenue from the machines last year.