To 'save' the DEAD horse racing industry that is losing money across the nation with declining attendance and lost interest, the arguments are the same regardless of the year - around the country, around the globe.
Why are taxpayers subsidizing the horse racing industry to maintain low wage jobs?
From Gambling Action Group:
Track officials said they sought approval of the video lottery terminals in an effort to reverse declining attendance and revenue.
Hudson said the track lost $590,798 last year and projects a $1.4 million loss in 1994.
The slot machine request, placed on the ballot as a referendum )) in the general election, failed to pass by 538 votes.
"This track has a bad reputation for crying wolf to try to get something they want," said Joe Saunders, who covered the election for the Martinsburg (W. Va.) Journal. "But this time, it looks serious."
According to Saunders, another referendum can't be placed on the ballot for two years.
At stake are about 1,000 track-related jobs, including 550 mutuels, admissions and security personnel and almost the same number of people employed in caring for approximately 900 horses stabled on the grounds.
That number doesn't include workers who could be affected in related industries, such as breeding farms, feed and farm supply stores and restaurants and motels.
"We needed the additional revenue from the VLTs to survive," Hudson said. "And I find it very frustrating for your fellow citizens to vote against you. I've been here 20 years, and this is something I'm taking personally."
Saunders said churches opposed the slot machines, and his associate, Brian Harmon, said: "There were a lot of moral issues involved, as well as a lack of trust between the community and track management. The ultimate fear was that a casino was eventually coming to town."
Hudson said he hopes the track can maintain its live racing schedule until the planned closing on Dec. 11. After that, no racing dates will be requested for 1995. The track now races four live cards a week and simulcasts on five days.
Hudson said he could not imagine "any set of circumstances where the track could remain open. We're shutting down because we're losing money pretty dramatically."
Hudson said ownership, headed by track president Keith Wagner, will seek a buyer for the track. "But I don't know who, under these conditions, would buy it," Hudson said.
The result of another referendum, this one in Prince William County, Va., has cleared the way for a potential track operator to challenge the Virginia Racing Commission's decision to put the state's first pari-mutuel facility in New Kent County near Richmond.
Voters in Prince William voted 31,165-21,018 in favor of allowing a track to be built in their jurisdiction.
"This belies any assertion in the commission's 'Findings of Fact' about significant community opposition to our track," said Lawrence Framme, an attorney representing Jim Wilson's Virginia Jockey Club, which wanted to build a track near Manassas. Wilson was passed over by the commission in favor of Arnold Stansley and the Maryland Jockey Club, which will build and operate the New Kent track.
Framme said it's likely that either today or on Monday he will file an appeal to challenge the board's decision.
Purse increase sought
Maryland thoroughbred horsemen are angered about a recent purse cut.
Now, the state's harness horsemen are upset that they have not received a purse increase.
As of the end of last month, Rosecroft/Delmarva had underpaid its horsemen by $500,000, according to testimony yesterday before the Maryland Racing Commission.
The horsemen are meeting with track officials at Rosecroft tonight to discuss an increase "now that the tracks are generating a better purse pool than previously estimated," said Charles Lockhart, executive of Cloverleaf, the harness horsemen's organization.
More purse money is being accumulated because Rosecroft is simulcasting its signal to the Meadowlands and because some stakes have been rescheduled until later in the year, Lockhart said.
The horsemen want the increased moneys paid now before a new buyer emerges to purchase the track from the estate of Fred Wiseman. In other business, the commission approved a 1995 date schedule for the state's thoroughbred tracks, similar to the one that ran this year.
According to Saunders, another referendum can't be placed on the ballot for two years.
At stake are about 1,000 track-related jobs, including 550 mutuels, admissions and security personnel and almost the same number of people employed in caring for approximately 900 horses stabled on the grounds.
That number doesn't include workers who could be affected in related industries, such as breeding farms, feed and farm supply stores and restaurants and motels.
"We needed the additional revenue from the VLTs to survive," Hudson said. "And I find it very frustrating for your fellow citizens to vote against you. I've been here 20 years, and this is something I'm taking personally."
Saunders said churches opposed the slot machines, and his associate, Brian Harmon, said: "There were a lot of moral issues involved, as well as a lack of trust between the community and track management. The ultimate fear was that a casino was eventually coming to town."
Hudson said he hopes the track can maintain its live racing schedule until the planned closing on Dec. 11. After that, no racing dates will be requested for 1995. The track now races four live cards a week and simulcasts on five days.
Hudson said he could not imagine "any set of circumstances where the track could remain open. We're shutting down because we're losing money pretty dramatically."
Hudson said ownership, headed by track president Keith Wagner, will seek a buyer for the track. "But I don't know who, under these conditions, would buy it," Hudson said.
The result of another referendum, this one in Prince William County, Va., has cleared the way for a potential track operator to challenge the Virginia Racing Commission's decision to put the state's first pari-mutuel facility in New Kent County near Richmond.
Voters in Prince William voted 31,165-21,018 in favor of allowing a track to be built in their jurisdiction.
"This belies any assertion in the commission's 'Findings of Fact' about significant community opposition to our track," said Lawrence Framme, an attorney representing Jim Wilson's Virginia Jockey Club, which wanted to build a track near Manassas. Wilson was passed over by the commission in favor of Arnold Stansley and the Maryland Jockey Club, which will build and operate the New Kent track.
Framme said it's likely that either today or on Monday he will file an appeal to challenge the board's decision.
Purse increase sought
Maryland thoroughbred horsemen are angered about a recent purse cut.
Now, the state's harness horsemen are upset that they have not received a purse increase.
As of the end of last month, Rosecroft/Delmarva had underpaid its horsemen by $500,000, according to testimony yesterday before the Maryland Racing Commission.
The horsemen are meeting with track officials at Rosecroft tonight to discuss an increase "now that the tracks are generating a better purse pool than previously estimated," said Charles Lockhart, executive of Cloverleaf, the harness horsemen's organization.
More purse money is being accumulated because Rosecroft is simulcasting its signal to the Meadowlands and because some stakes have been rescheduled until later in the year, Lockhart said.
The horsemen want the increased moneys paid now before a new buyer emerges to purchase the track from the estate of Fred Wiseman. In other business, the commission approved a 1995 date schedule for the state's thoroughbred tracks, similar to the one that ran this year.
THOROUGHBRED DATES
@4 The 1995 dates for Maryland thoroughbred tracks:
Track .. .. .. ..Dates
Laurel .. .. ..Jan. 1-April 3
Pimlico . .. .April 4-June 12
Laurel .. ....June 13-July 24
Pimlico .. ...July 25-Aug. 25
Timonium .. ..Aug. 26-Sept. 4
Pimlico .. ....Sept. 5-Oct. 2
Laurel .. .. ..Oct. 3-Dec. 31
Note: Dates have yet to be approved for Maryland harness tracks, the Fair Hill steeplechase meets and Marlboro races at the Prince George's County Equestrian Center.
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