I am always open to adding worthy organizations to my Angels of Mercy page, as it is meant to be a continual work in progress. Also, I don’t want to include unworthy groups. However, every organization I have listed are, to my knowledge, bona fide equine rescue and refuge organizations. If you want to send me a private email at wls@horseracingbusiness.com I will consider what you recommend. Thanks.

The state ALLOWS expanding gambling (or any gambling for that matter), factor in interstate federal regulations and the gambling venues certainly have a right to construct the proposition (as they always do….or the major bidder for same)

The problem is the state decides the final terms and award. That doesn’t seem fair to me as they provide absolutely NO investment dollars, determine their revenue (without populous or industry vote) and just simply “allow” the expanding gaming proposition.

Alot of control there with little investment and huge revenue skimming in my book (pun intended).

As to pari-mutuel takeouts, first you have the host gaming enterprise, then you have the venue, then you have the jurisdiction all taking a chunk when the bettors still have to be paid.

The last to be served are the horses, the purses, the bettors (in order of last being first).

The gambling provider and state ALWAYS get theirs first.

Since most horse racing states provide little purse funding (I’ll give you tax benefits, as are for most businesses) or breeder’s incentives…I think the state is subsidizing very little if anything.

Further, take a look at a revenue generated by racing in a state and see the cut the state gets. Then proceed to their budget and see how much racing gets.

The idea is not to forget about the main reason why the slots exist in the first place (and are located on the premises of a horse racetrack). The racing product and their customers !

Quite frankly if all the state cares about is VLT revenues they should be building casinos in the commonwealth instead of implicating (and neglecting) the horse racing end of the business.

Merely propping up purses through VLT’s for a few years does not address the various problems in the horse racing industry. A long term solution where horse racetracks can be self-sufficient is the best road.