Advocacy Group Opposes Horse Track Casinos
Advocacy Group Opposes Horse Track Casinos Save Email Print
Posted: 1:22 PM Jan 12, 2009
 Last Updated: 1:47 PM Jan 12, 2009
15 comments
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Not even one week after Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo introduced the latest attempt to bring slots to horse tracks, an effort to defeat the bill is already underway.

An advocacy group, "say no to casinos," is highlighting what it calls the negative impacts of house bill 158, which would create so called "racinos."

"Say no to casinos" also has an issue with the fact that under this bill there would not be a voter referendum to approve the video gambling terminals.

Stumbo wants to bring video lottery terminals to horse tracks, he says, to give low and middle income people a tax break.
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Posted by: Jim Location: Annville on Jan 14, 2009 at 09:03 PM
This comment is to all those who bash Churches, your are putting down the GOD I serve when you bash Churches, you can talk about me but leave the God I serve alone.
Posted by: Leslie Location: Lex on Jan 14, 2009 at 04:33 PM
Why is gambling such an issue. All the money we could be making is going right across the river to IN. Can we please quit letting churches and their followers decide what is best for our state, they obviously don't know very much about making money since they are always begging others to donate to them. Let the people in our State gamble!!!!!!!
Posted by: CAROL on Jan 14, 2009 at 03:30 PM
What is the problem? People are still driving over to Indiana to gamble why not lure some of those people here? If you want participate fine, if not fine to but do not knock down an idea that may help.
Posted by: READER on Jan 14, 2009 at 03:28 PM
I think the slots should be at both especially Churchill the rich go there and let them put the money in the machines. I do not see anything wrong with it, if people want to put their money in those machines that is fine. However, I am not so I could care less.
Posted by: G Location: Eastern Kentucky on Jan 13, 2009 at 02:07 PM
Kudos to Carroll from Versailles...Let them ruin the horse industry and see just where this state's economy is. They don't have a clue!
Posted by: Carroll Location: Versailles on Jan 13, 2009 at 01:08 PM
You have your horse industry information wrong. $4 billion Estimated economic impact of Kentucky's horse economy 80,000 - 100,000 Direct and indirect jobs generated by the state's horse industry #1 The horse industry is Kentucky's top agricultural cash crop (30% of the state's economic activity is agriculture-related) $8.8 billion Economic impact of the state's tourism industry, which features the horse industry as its signature promotional attraction. 14,600 Tourism-related jobs attributed to the equine industry 128,800 Participants in Kentucky horse farming, racing and equine-related businesses 2.3 million Estimated attendance at Kentucky Thoroughbred and Standardbred racetracks 320,000* Horses in Kentucky $240 million Economic impact of the Kentucky Horse Park $217 million Economic impact of the Kentucky Derby $650 million Value of horses sold at auction in Kentucky in 2003 140,000 acres Acres preserved through the state's Thoroughbred industry $127 million Estimated Kentucky horse industry exports
Posted by: Ty Location: Frankfort on Jan 12, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Opposition to racinos has nothing to do with churches and everything to do with common sense. How would slots bring in more money? Are slots going to draw more people to Keeneland/Churchill? When I go to the track, I wager everything I take to wager on the horses. Having slots wouldn't really change that for me and I imagine the same would hold for other bettors. For the most part, the odds on horses are better than the odds on slots.
Posted by: Gil Location: Richmond on Jan 12, 2009 at 07:39 PM
Slots have been voted down. Casinos have been voted down. The cigarette tax was voted down. All are back up for vote. When do we say enough and move on?
Posted by: Kay Location: Morehead on Jan 12, 2009 at 05:35 PM
No to Horse Track Casinos
Posted by: Steve Location: KY. on Jan 12, 2009 at 04:38 PM
Tax the money making churches. Either that, or make them stay out of politics!
Posted by: Chris Location: Avon on Jan 12, 2009 at 03:29 PM
James, this State was raised on Tobacco and we see where that is today, the Horse Industry pays few taxes and has always paid poor wages. They have contributed to the sorry state of our State!
Posted by: James Location: Lexington on Jan 12, 2009 at 03:00 PM
If you remember correctly the lottery was going to pay for all this stuff. As for Chris's comments Central Kentucky was raised on the horse industry so we need to support it the best way we can. If you don't watch our signature industry go to West Virginia and Delaware.
Posted by: Thomas Location: Lexington on Jan 12, 2009 at 02:37 PM
Does this adovcacy group oppose the Off Track Betting business in the state? Odd how the OTB parlors never come up in the discussion.
Posted by: Benet on Jan 12, 2009 at 02:22 PM
It appears the house speaker and the governor are incapable of solving the short fall without casino revenues. Shame on them for not being creative enough to find another avenue to raise funds. Shameful behavior for our elected officials.
Posted by: Chris Location: Avon on Jan 12, 2009 at 02:20 PM
If the slots are posted at Race Tracks and not free standing I will not vote for it, no way! This is just another attempt to help the Horsey crowd and I do not support that in any shape or fashion.
Posted by: joe Location: paris on Jan 12, 2009 at 02:16 PM
This is not a new advocacy group. Just good guys trying to care for those who don't know any better, yet.
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