white welfare

[clockerbob]

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/commentary/commentary.asp#viewpoints
That is why tracks today are offering or vigorously pursuing other forms of gaming to pay purses and provide operating revenues. The alternative gaming contributions toward purses is $200-million today and rising. Metropolitan New York and Pennsylvania soon will be joining the burgeoning crowd of racinos. That number was zero at the beginning of 1990.

[edwarren]

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/commentary/commentary.asp#viewpoints
That is why tracks today are offering or vigorously pursuing other forms of gaming to pay purses and provide operating revenues. The alternative gaming contributions toward purses is $200-million today and rising. Metropolitan New York and Pennsylvania soon will be joining the burgeoning crowd of racinos. That number was zero at the beginning of 1990.

The juice from slots is 7-8% while on track handle is 15%+. Without mentioning these figures, Mark is saying even the addition of slots won't make up the $141MM diff.

[big wally]

Tracks and horseman are looking for handouts. They cant make it on their own. Purse in Illinois have not moved since 2000.  All Arlington operations are netting 5 to 6mill (guess) after taxes and this is with recapture and their big tax break. Harness is dead and who knows what is going on with Hawthorne.
See any positives?

[edwarren]

Tracks and horseman are looking for handouts. They cant make it on their own. Purse in Illinois have not moved since 2000.  All Arlington operations are netting 5 to 6mill (guess) after taxes and this is with recapture and their big tax break. Harness is dead and who knows what is going on with Hawthorne.
See any positives?

Horseracing's fun and it still employs a lot of people, there is a big multiplier throughout different industries, I'm guessing. Advertising is something that might be exploited (groan, as if we don't see enough ads now!). I wouldn't call it "dead" yet. Don't know much about IL farms and breeding programs, but I guess that could be better. It might be our "pals" in KY don't want to see that happen here.

[Parker]

The problem with IL-breds is not the KY folks, it's the backyard breeders who dominate.  They think becuase it's "related" or an "own son of" it's going to produce well.  Not the case, but try to reason with those who have more money than brains, or those who simply pump out foals and still have no brains.  I can make any nag an IL-bred, will it win?  That's the other question.  And that's why most IL-breds suck.  There's also a lot of popular sire syndrome and fad breeding going on here.