Long days in the barn have gotten longer for Assiniboia Downs groom Katie MacLennan.

That's because 31 of her co-workers from Mexico and the Caribbean have been barred from entering the country, even though they've worked at the horse racing track in the past.

They're also grooms who helped MacLennan take care of the horses.

"It makes me sad because it's a lot of your friends,” said MacLennan. “They’re the people you've worked with and now they're not here so it's kind of lonely."

It's part of a Conservative government crackdown on temporary foreign workers in what are considered low-skilled jobs.

An April 1 deadline set back in 2011 means workers either have to leave Canada or become permanent residents - a move that's caused delays in spring training at the race track.

"It's hurting us,” said Joanie Hamilton-Johnson, executive director of The Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association of Manitoba. “This is a big industry for Manitoba. We're a large tourist attraction and we need these people."

The government said the crackdown is about giving more opportunities to Canadian job seekers.

"We believe the temporary foreign worker program should be a limited and last resort only when Canadians are not available to do the jobs," said Employment Minister Pierre Poilievre in Ottawa.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada hasn't released the exact the number of temporary foreign workers but it's estimated tens of thousands right across the country could be affected.

There are more than 4,000 temporary foreign workers in Manitoba but it's not clear how many have to leave.

They work in all sectors, but mainly in the agricultural industry.

Winnipeg immigration lawyer Reis Pagtakhan said the employees should be allowed to stay if no Canadians are available to do their jobs.

"The arbitrary rule that these foreign workers have to go home doesn't make any sense,” said Pagtakhan. “You should allow everyone to bring in the foreign workers that they need, especially when you can prove the need."

Horse owners and trainers say they've posted jobs and many Canadians who’ve applied didn't have enough experience around the animals, or, were scared off by the strenuous nature of the work which pays about $14 per hour.

"It's one of those things where we need the people who know what they're doing and love these jobs, rather than just anybody to come in and do them," said MacLennan.

Track officials said the 31 grooms are a vital part of the racing season but they only represent between 5-10 per cent of all the workers at the track, most of whom are Canadian.

Assiniboia Downs is hopeful results of a random federal audit will mean the grooms can return to Canada to work at the track.

But with racing season right around the corner, if that doesn't happen soon, they may be forced to find replacement workers - something easier said than done.