This week, Attractions Hippiques announced on its Web site that it was now processing refunds to Webphonebet accounts, and that the firm had “stopped all activities” on Oct. 14, 2009.

Attractions Hippiques lost its court-imposed bankruptcy protection from its creditors on Oct. 12, and no financial help has come from the Quebec government that might have breathed life back into the sport there.

Attractions Hippiques lost a reported $16.5 million in its first year, and had been under protection from its creditors since 2008.

Earlier this month, the Quebec government decided it would no longer subsidize the Standardbred industry, either through VLT revenues or the taxes generated by pari-mutuel racing. C$450 million had gone from the government to the industry since 1995, but the industry continued in steep decline.

The Quebec government recently announced that it was putting aside C$9.2 million in aid to Standardbred breeders in the province, that will be available through March 2012.

There has been no live racing anywhere in Quebec since Oct. 4. The Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, which serves as the province’s racing commission, will reportedly strip Attractions Hippiques of its right to simulcast races at its facilities in Montreal, Quebec City, Trois Rivieres and Aylmer.

Rumors that the Société nationale du cheval de course (SONACC), would take complete control of Hippodrome de Montreal and continue live racing were recently quashed by Jean Bourdreau, SONACC’s executive director. He recently told the Montreal Gazette that such a plan was “never an option,” and that the track and the property upon which it sits will be sold, immediately.