BILL FARISH: WILLIAMS’ CONSTITUTIONAL COP-OUT
In the latest of a series of editorials between Kentucky’s horsemen and Senate President David Williams, Bill Farish of Lane’s End Farm writes a scathing indictment of the constitutional amendment. He claims it is a cop-out by Senate Republicans and that by David Williams’ own admission, an amendment is an unnecessary step.
While we both agree that slots are essential to the survival of Kentucky racing, how we get there is where the Paulick Report splits. Ray has been against a constitutional amendment, believing it will only stall the process and ultimately lead to nothing. I understand the current make up of the Senate and believe the only way to have this signed into law by 2011 is through the people. If 70% of Kentuckians want this, then it should be a slam dunk, right? And there is no guarantee the Senate will flip in 2010 as it is shaping up to be a Republican year nationally.
What say you? - Bradford Cummings
While our signature industry continues to exit the Commonwealth, our Republican leaders in the Senate continue to insist on playing politics with the future of the Thoroughbred business in Kentucky. For the last few years, Senate Republicans led by Senate President David Williams have steadfastly opposed a constitutional amendment to allow expanded gaming opportunities at Kentucky’s racetracks. Their longstanding opposition has allowed our competitor states to establish racing and breeding programs subsidized by expanded gaming, and those states have put us at an enormous competitive disadvantage. We are losing race horses, stallions, mares and a significant number of jobs to those states, and we are in danger of seeing major farms shutter their operations and move to friendlier jurisdictions.
As a final insult to our signature industry, Sen. Williams did not even bother to bring legislation that would have allowed VLTs at Kentucky race tracks for a full vote of the Senate. After the bill passed the House it was promised a fair hearing in the Senate, but was instead sent to a committee where the chairman declared it dead before testimony was even heard.
So after years of outright neglect and hostility toward an industry that employs 100,000 Kentuckians, it appears that Senate Republicans are beginning to feel the heat from their constituents. As almost 70 percent of Kentuckians support putting VLTs at racetracks, and as their Senate majority has shrunk with the loss of two straight special elections, one would hope that Senate Republicans would finally listen to the majority of Kentuckians by supporting legislation to put our industry on a level competitive playing field. But sadly, it appears that Senate Republicans will continue to play political games with the livelihoods of so many hard working Kentuckians.
The word around Frankfort is that Senate leadership is preparing to offer up the old idea of putting forth a constitutional amendment to permit gaming at Kentucky race tracks. This sounds great on the surface but, as usual in politics, there is more to it than meets the eye. First, a constitutional amendment is unnecessary, and Sen. Williams has already conceded this point. Allowing VLTs at racetracks is already constitutional, as affirmed by two recent Attorney General Opinions. Sen. Williams agreed that a constitutional amendment is not required to put VLTs at racetracks. So why then are they preparing to support a constitutional amendment? Politics.
Senate Republicans are struggling to retain their majority, and several of their members are facing tough re-election fights next November. It seems that Senate leadership has made the cynical decision to try and put expanded gaming on the ballot in an effort to drive up social conservative turnout in the next election cycle, hoping that the increased turnout will help their Senate candidates, in much the same manner that the gay marriage amendment helped Republican candidates a few years ago.
Never mind that a constitutional amendment is not necessary. Never mind that it could not be voted on until November 2010, and then if it passed, could not be implemented until late 2011—costing Kentucky jobs and doing further damage to our industry in the mean time. Never mind that out-of-state casinos will pour in tens of millions of dollars to defeat an amendment, and will once again make Senate Republicans the biggest defenders of out-of-state casinos. Never mind that the time for an amendment has come and gone, and that the industry desperately needs immediate statutory action.
None of these things matter, because it is clear that Senate Republican leadership is not really interested in helping the horse industry. Rather, they are only interested in helping themselves, by trying to hold onto whatever power they can in Frankfort. Senate Republicans seem determined to play political games with thousands of Kentuckians’ livelihoods, and their retention of power and privilege has trumped all else. It is truly disheartening that a handful of Senators have decided that retaining their political power is more important than helping our entire state, helping our signature industry and protecting the jobs of 100,000 Kentuckians.
As a lifelong Republican, I am hopeful that rank and file members of the Senate caucus will rise up against their cynical leadership, and act in the best interest of Kentucky by supporting an immediate statutory solution that will enable our signature industry to fairly compete with our out of state competition.
Bill Farish
General Manager, Lane’s End Farm
Tags: Bill Farish, bradford cummings, david williams, Frankfort, lane's end farm, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick
October 19th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Another fine article Bill. Its a shame that Williams has turned us against our own Party. Of course he is the same guy that has tried to undermine the 2010 Games and tried to cut the Horse Parks Budget
Thanks for the work that you do
October 19th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Thanks for speaking out in such a straight forward and incisive way, Bill, and for underlining the importance of urgent action. A vote in November of 2010 (and implementation in late 2011) will be too late for many Kentucky horsemen.
October 19th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Once again Bill, you have leveled a diatribe against the Republican leader of the Senate without answering key questions yourself.
First, do you support slots at racetracks if, as in Ontario, the slots are owned and run by the lottery commission. In this scenario, all of the money except that which would boost purses, will benefit the taxpayers of Kentucky. Under the plan you have supported, most of the money benefits already wealthy track owners.
This is a “Yes” or “No” Bill. Nothing complicated. If the answer is “No” then all you are doing is trying to enrich track owners for reasons you need to disclose. If the answer is “Yes” you should write an editorial stating such.
Also, anyone close to this industry knows a major problem in Kentucky has been unscrupulous and fraudulent sales practices, hidden ownership, phony bidding and excessive vet charges. What have you as General Manager of Lane’s End Farm done to eradicate these cancers that have run honest horse owners out of the business. Nothing abstract is acceptable…only documented actions.
October 19th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Thank you Bill for stepping up yet again. Well stated!
October 19th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I’m anxious to see Bill Farish’s response to the # 3, Mainstream Kentucky post.
October 19th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Please look to Ohio to see how things should not be done. The politics within the issue of bringing slot machines to the tracks has failed due to a trifecta of incompetence/arrogance/outright stupidity by members of the Ohio State Racing Commission, Gov. Ted Strickland, track owners and a very small circle of horsemen, who seemingly yearn to protect their interests in the state’s shrinking industry (at the expense of their vast brethren).
The stumbling, bumbling and fumbling has meant the abandonment - due to one of what may be a series of rulings by the Ohio Supreme Court - of what could have been a solid plan to assist purses and the breeding industry, while putting cash in the depleted state coffers and giving the track owners money to put in their pockets (heaven knows, little goes into making their facilities up-to-date…that is, circa 1980s!).
A constitutional amendment before voters on November 3 to permit the construction of four casinos in the state is almost certainly to pass - and the racing industry is slated to receive a small percentage of revenue in this plan - but the grievous errors done by “professionals” who should have known better has delivered a devastating blow to racing/breeding in this state.
The rhetoric must cool down and those who truly want to make positive change in Kentucky must seize the opportunity….push the naysayers aside and speak up, while leaving room at the table for all interested parties. Don’t be Ohio and fumble the only chance you may have to get things right….for everyone.
October 19th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
It IS always the Republicans.
At every level, the Party of NO. Calculated conspiracies to keep themselves in office and busy at the trough for their wealthy bosses. And if you think this is bad, wait until the Republicans bring in Josef Goebbels Rove, or another of his ilk, to run the Bluegrass smear campaigns.
O course, it would be better if the primary beneficiary of the slots bill were the horsemen, and not the tracks.
But … good luck to you in Kentucky. Here in Washington we have the Party of No pretty much on the run now, and may be able to pass some sort of public option as a part of reforming the health industray. Luck to us all. — Nancy P
October 19th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
To whomever is hiding behind the name Mainstream Kentucky, I support the Bill as passed by the State House earlier this year. What do you think? If I did not support it why would I be writing in defense of it over and over? The bill gives 30-35% to the State, 50% to the track that is operating the business and the rest to purses, breeder’s incentives etc. For those that think that this is too large a percentage to the operator, you need only to look to states that limited the percentage to less than that to see that second rate facilities get built that can’t compete with neighboring casinos/racinos. You must have the proper incentive or you get a sub-par result. The bill also puts oversite in the hands of the state lottery commission as it is in Canada, where slots have been a great success.
October 19th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Welfare, socialism, big government solve nothing. Whore politicians thrive regardless of how they screw things up and how crooked they are. NO-bama will save our country from total financial ruin by stopping the far-left egomaniac dinosaurs in the White House.
October 19th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Political commentary comes to the Paulick Report. NancyP and then NObama weigh in…can Limbaugh, Hannity, Olberman and Beck be very far behind?
Oh scratch that idea; I just realized the NObama guy is just a disgruntled Auburn fan.
October 19th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Mainstream Kentucky you did not mentioned outrageous stud fees. The highest I know of outside of Kentucky is $25K and that is Not For Love whose median earnings are far higher than his stud fee. His median $45,846 is higher than almost every KY stallion and his average is $84,568. with 78% winners to runners,64% winners to foals, 9% stakes winners and 20% black type runners. Most KY stallions are a very poor value with stud fees far higher than their median earnings and in some cases higher than their average earnings and Lanes End is one of those with some of the highest stud fees. How many Lanes End stallions are a good value?
October 19th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Apparently Farish and the bluebloods didn’t heed the participants at the Simulcast Conference in Saratoga Springs;
“Participants in the horse industry don’t get it but they’ll learn soon,†said Gural. “The horse industry doesn’t want to do anything to help themselves. The horse industry is very happy to be a welfare recipient. They believe somehow that they are entitled.â€
I notice that Paulick took all references to that conference of his front page. Just saying…….
October 19th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
More from that conference;
“The chances of change are slim to none,†said Christiansen. “Racing as an industry is more resistant to change than anything we’ve ever dealt with. If the fan base can’t be brought back, the sport will die.â€
“The fundamental problem is consumer pricing,†he said. “The amount of money taken from bettors is not sustainable.”
If the fan base can’t be brought back……just sayin’…….
October 19th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Mainstream KY is paranoia monger. Just disregard his rambling bs.
Nancy P and NObama are idiots.
Thehorses sounds like a cheapskate who probably shouldnt be breeding horses in the first place.
Carry onward!
October 19th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Bill, many thanks for your continuing leadership on expanded gaming in Kentucky and for your persistence in taking the ball to the hoop.
The shrillness of the minority opposition expressed here indicates the effectiveness of your argument and the delivery, which has devastating impact given your impeccable Republican credentials and horse industry helmsmanship. It’s worth noting that the antis can’t defend the messenger (David Williams) or defeat the arguments — opting instead for a strategy of trivializing this debate through a smoke-screen of obscure and/or side-issues and/or personal innuendos
The Constitutional approach is, in fact, a Cop-out and no longer operative.
The Emperor , indeed, has no clothes.
October 19th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Picksburg Phil forgets that the commonwealth of KY does not equate to racing in general
October 19th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Ky could get $1 million a day in slot welfare and they still wouldn’t lower takeout in an effort to strengthen their non-welfare income source.
When the slot welfare eventually drops off and the rest is taken away from the govt and owners of the tracks, maybe the horsemen will be happy racing for trophies and blankets.
October 19th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
I have been following this debate for some time now and don’t understand the anger that some people are spouting to those of us who are trying to make a living breeding and raising horses. We are not the enemy. We do not set the take out levels. The horse industry will be all but gone in Kentucky in a few years if something is not done and done soon. It was not our idea to put slot machines in W Virginia,Lousiana,Pennslyvania or Canada or Indiana any of these other places. I wish they were not there and we would not feel the need to get in that business but it is too late. These states are sucking us dry. They are depleting the racehorse population trainers are picking up and heading to states where business is better and farms are going out of business.We are just farmers who’s livlihoods are threatened because of what is happening in other states. What have we farmers done to make some of you so angry? I just dont get it.
October 19th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Just a Farmer
Per your observation, I think we’re seeing the Kubler-Ross cycle in process. David Williams’ courtiers appear to be stuck in the Shock, Denial, Anger mode. Depression and Acceptance to follow as below:
Shock stage: Initial paralysis at hearing the bad news.
Denial stage: Trying to avoid the inevitable.
Anger stage: Frustrated outpouring of bottled-up emotion.
Bargaining stage: Seeking in vain for a way out.
Depression stage: Final realization of the inevitable.
Testing stage: Seeking realistic solutions.
Acceptance stage: Finally finding the way forward.
There may be no way forward for Senator Williams as he appears to be in the third stage of drunkenness — intoxicated with power and arrogance.
October 19th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Sounds like the problem Maryland has had for years. Finally slots has been voted in and none of the slots will be at a Maryland track! The State is taking so much few even want to bid for a casino. The help to the horsemen are too little too late. Maryland has lost so much ground to WV, DE, and PA it is hard to see slots helping much. Don’t allow your goverment to stall too long. Ky horses as a rule are priced way out of line for what they bring to the buyer. Few horses make $100,000 in their racing years. Few breeders can recover from the years it takes to breed the mare, raise the foal, sell at the sale for a loss. Price adjustments have to be made. Not For Love is the best value for the dollar on the east coast. Maryland is lucky to be able to hang on to him. Without him they would be lost.
October 19th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
All the lip service, niceties to industry, pro/antislots rhetoric confirm my belief of the following:
(1) Elected representatives (Congress or states) are either incompetent, bought and paid for or just sadly living in their own unrealistic worlds with a ton of make believe mixed in..maybe just arrogantly stupid?; and,
(2) Without a central, enforcing regulatory organization (NFL, etc) these little fiefdoms, I got my own piece of the pie racing, breeding, owning entities are doomed to obscurity. Here’s the rub…the little powers that be have to agree to divest themselves of a small portion of their soon to end powers to make the industry whole again Nationally. And if you morons can’t get the internet, off-shore, ADW AND government revenue fingers out (or get a reasonable share back to the folks at the track) of the pie you bake everday for them to rip-off…YOU ARE SCREWED! Sorry bettors, I watch races to watch, not bet and am glad when you make money at a fair price. But the problems (sucking off the racers and bettors) are the same. Until you all unite, the same problems will continue. Slots will not solve the long term problems of racing, but they will help with the bleeding, short term. In the mean time you must solve industry wide problems…not course by course or state by state. Therein lies the major problem.
October 19th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Cris:
You make my point exactly. The screw-up and still sanctioned mess that is Magna is just so depressing with regard to properties, slots, MD Government and the state of MD Racing. When I was thrilled about the slots referendum being passed, then witnessed the sanctioned Stronach demise with all the slots going to any local save Pimilico or Laurel, I became seriously ill. All this fight, for years…and nothing going to either track! Going to an outlet mall down the road from Laurel just made me ill AND realistic. Government (not all) are toads in the road to race industry success, with a ton of help from within the disjointed industry, me first race industry.
October 19th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Actually, only the Ky Supreme Court can say what is constitutional. In Illinois Fairmont shut down because the casinos kept litigating a legislative payment to tracks OKd by the Illinois legislature. There’s your partners there, Mr. Farish. Let the people vote!
October 19th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I know Bill Farish to be a horseman dedicated to the best interests of the entire industry, not just a chosen few. His argument that a constitutional amendment is time consuming and unnecessary when a statutory remedy is plainly available is right on point. Bill’s political analysis and understanding, especially his awareness of the raising of a constitutional amendment by senate leadership as a way to galvanize support for anti-gaming candidates in the fall elections, and as a way to effectively delay the approval of urgently needed legislation, is right on point. Thank you, Bill, for seeing through this smokescreen called a constitutional amendment and recognizing it as a clear and present danger to the survival of the Kentucky thoroughbred industry.
October 19th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Picksburg Phil….
That tin foil hat may be getting a little too tight on your head!
No conspiracy here regarding the absence of simulcast conference stories. The conference ended last Wednesday and the stories covering it were cycled off the home page as were other stories published from midweek of last week.
October 19th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
This industry needs to use the body’s that have national power more effectively to make the 30+ racing jurisdictions change the way racing is presented to make a day at the races an event again just like the Kentucky Derby is an event that is attended and watched nationally.
The fact that there were 13 graded stakes races last weekent and 23 graded stakes races the previous weekend is proof that there is no understanding between the states and racetracks. How are there even enough graded stakes calliber horses in North America to fill these races with quality fields and present a great event for fans to watch. Would be like watching the NFL with 100 teams participating where there were two or three good players on each team. Would be a lot of bad and uninspiring games played each week that would not attract fans to the stadiums or the television.
The best horses need to run against each other in large fields, there are too many options available for them to avoid one another most of the year. The only race that is a national event that attracts all of the best horses at the time and attracts booth core and non core fans watch in large numbers is the Kentucky Derby. When the best meet to determine who is the best the racing becomes an event not just another race day.
Slots might help the state of Kentucky in the short term but we have a national problem with this industry that is a much bigger problem than just one state in the great USA.
October 19th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Mr. Farish is emerging as a fine spokesman for breeding and racing interests in Kentucky, but there’s irony his lifelong affiliation with the Republican party and the fight he’s waging against its current Kentucky Republican leadership. When he writes, “So after years of outright neglect and hostility toward an industry that employs 100,000 Kentuckians, it appears that Senate Republicans are beginning to feel the heat from their constituents,” it begs the question: Where was the foresight in supporting this party and its policies during the years of neglect?
October 19th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
So Bill answered one of the two questions he was asked. He said that he did not support having the lottery commission install and operate slots at racetracks per the model at ultra successful Woodbine. Instead of having all of the money outside of purse supplements go to the state to support schools, roads, health care and the elderly, he wants almost all of it to go to a few already wealthy track owners.
Mr. Farish wants the out-of-state owners who have probably invested less than $1 million in Kentucky Downs to be able to sell it once slots are passed to gambling kingpins from Nevada or New Jersey for hundreds of millions of dollars in pure profit. This is money that would have gone to benefit Kentucky taxpayers.
Mr. Farish also ignored the questions of what he as General Manager of Lane’s End had done to remove corruption and sleazy sales practices in the breeding industry in Kentucky. One must assume he has done nothing.
It is incredibly offensive for this son-of-privilege to allow himself to be a pawn of wealthy track owners trying to make the score of a lifetime. Is this what your father envisioned when he got this job for you?
October 19th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Recognizing a poor value does not make one a cheapskate. A. P. Indy at Lanes End had 14 yearlings at Keeneland Spetember. His stud fee was $300K when they were conceived. Nine of the 14 sold for less than his stud fee. The lowest was $65K. His median earnings of $46,257. are only slightly higher than Not For Love’s. Half of his offspring earn less than that. Anybody who things that is a good deal deserves a stupid sign. Kingmambo with his $250K stud fee has median earnings of only $23,753. Both have stud fees higher than their average earnings. Birdstone sired this years KY Derby and Belmont winners with a stud fee of $10K. That is a good value. Farmers in other states that raise Thoroughbreds are trying to survive too and they do not need greedy KY people claiming that their stallions are the only ones worth breeding to. THe number of horses bred in KY stayed about the same while other most other states dropped. KY was responsible for 40% of registrations. It looks like people in other states are doing worse.
October 19th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
mainstream
let’s piece this toghether as best we can
sales: do you buy horses? has something happened to you?
hidden ownership: do you REALLY care who owns the horse you are bidding on? I don’t..I bid ont he one that I want to bid on!
excessive vet charges: ??? what is this? you got a problem with your vet? take it up with him or her!
Ky Downs owners put their money up when the track was going out of business where was your money then?
October 19th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Slots are a handout and a short term solution. Racing would be much better if Prairie Meadows, Presque Isle, Charles Town, Mountaineer, Penn National…….weren’t diluting the horse population. Zia Park had a $300,000 race last week that attracted a wopping $32,000 in total handle. Some of these tracks offer a pick three that has a total pool of less than $600. Do they care about the horseplayers?
October 20th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Yes, John Greathouse…it matters who owns a horse you are considering buying. Do I want a vet who is vetting a horse I am considering buying to have a hidden ownership in it. No. Do I want an agent I am paying a 5 percent commission to recommend horses to have a secret ownership stake in the horse or a quid pro quo arrangement with the owner? No.
Do I want a bloodstock agent who recommends a mating to get a free season with the stallion for his own mare after I pay full price? No.
Yes, I have seen the corruption of Kentucky’s bloodstock industry first-hand. I have seen unscrupulous consignors, vets, trainers and agents cheat well-intentioned new owners until they run from the industry forever. I hasn’t hurt me much. I learned a lesson long ago about who to trust at a horse sale…f they are at a horse sale, don’t trust them.
And while that has much to do with why the industry is in trouble, it has nothing to do with my position on slots.
My position on slots is simple…apologists for race-track owners need to stop misleading the public about where the money goes. Most of the money in the industry bill goes into the pockets of already-wealthy track owners - not horsemen and not the state. Bill Farish, in the articles likely written for him, is not defending why Churchill Downs would get a $1 billion windfall. But that is where the money would go.
Finally, poor Bill made a lame effort to claim the Ontario Lottery had “oversight” for slots at the tracks in Canada. Wrong Bill. The lottery owns and operates the slots, The money goes to benefit horsemen and the taxpayers. How can a group have oversight over itself? Stop letting someone from KEEP try to wordsmith yourself out of an indefensible position and come out and tell us why you think Churchill Downs deserves a $1 billion subsidy from the commonwealth of Kentucky and Kentucky Downs deserves a half a billion dollar subsidy.
And btw, we are still waiting to hear what you have done as General Manager of Lane’s End to rid the bloodstock industry of corruption and fraudulent sales practices.
October 20th, 2009 at 8:19 am
Mainstream Kentucky,” Grow up “,anywhere on the planet where dollars are traded people will try to take advantage i.e. stockmarket ,banking ect ,the horse business is no different but in my experience the overall majority of people involved in this business are above reproach Lanes End Farm included.Take your ball and go home.
October 20th, 2009 at 8:22 am
It appears that Mainstream, who originally appeared to be a loose cannon, has just schooled Mr. Greathouse in a well written and cogent comment (#32), after the Mr. Greathouse had tried to get cute in comment # 30…
October 20th, 2009 at 8:55 am
The discussion here highlights the limited value of commentary where some participants shield their identities and their true allegiances or agendas. The writer of comment 32 and others above is nameless but clearly an opponent of slots in the Commonwealth. Fine, everybody has an opinion, but the writer of comment 32 uses a red herring to deflect the real issue concerning “ownership” of the slots: WHO is going to PAY for the construction, implementation, staffing, and operation of slots?
At this point, there is NO WAY that the Commonwealth would undertake such an expense. Can you imagine the whining and slander about “state-funded benefits” and so forth, if the Legislature even had the money (and it doesn’t).
So that means private money from racetrack owners or quasi-private money from the lottery.
Would it be fair and reasonable to expect the tracks to invite the lottery (their competition) to own and run slots so that the tracks can then boost purses?
Perhaps it would seem so to someone in the lottery business or someone in the casino business on our borders.
October 20th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Mr. Mitchell…
Buildout costs are a non-issue whether the machines are owned and operated by the track owners or the lottery. Machine manufacturers and bankers will be more than willing to finance the complete buildout or include it in the machine cost.
The bottom line is the tracks only want this to pass if it puts hundreds of millions of dollars in pure profit in their pocket instead of benefitting the people of Kentucky.
October 20th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Ray said, “That tin foil hat may be getting a little too tight on your head!”
Ouch, Ray. That really hurt.
But, you must admit, when it’s between the Welfare Queens vs. the Degenerate Gamblers, you always come down on the side that butters your bread, the Welfare Queens. You never use your powerful pen to advocate for the Degenerate Gamblers. Try using your influential website to get exchange, or peer-to-peer, betting. Too progressive for Ky? With peer-to-peer exchanges, Keeneland, on Wednesday afternoon, would look like Woodstock. Ok, most betting would be online, but handle would increase dramatically (with a modest rake, anyway)
October 20th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Personally detest slots; haven’t played them, don’t want to any time soon, but I don’t understand how this is not win-win for all involved?
1). Racetrack owners (involved in a for profit business) make money. So what? I hope they make it hand over fist and improve their facilities with a portion. It should be a requirement that infrastructure (stable areas for example) be improved with a portion of the revenue received. It’s about time the entity actually putting on the live event reap a greater portion of the benefit instead of the entity taking the wager anyway, but that’s a whole separate issue!
2). KY horsemen win with purses on scale with those offered in slots benefited neighboring jurisdictions. Better purses, better opportunity to earn a living right here in KY without having to move their families around chasing it.
3). KY breeders win with a statebred incentive program improved with the addition of slots revenue. Not just for the thoroughbred industry either as the once thriving, but now dying standardbred industry would also receive a must needed shot in the arm. Less horses/breeders leaving the state to chase slot fueled breeders incentives as well.
4). The Commonwealth of KY wins with the addition of the first dollar in tax revenue it receives from alternative sources of wagering. It’s needed and I haven’t heard of any alternative proposals which can generate it.
Oh wait, just thought of those who lose…. it is all the neighboring states offering casino style gaming around Kentucy’s borders. They would lose now as why would KY residents (at least those wanting to play slots) now need to drive out of state to do so?
October 20th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Reading this thread for the first time is fascinating. Notwithstanding, attempts by detractors in some of the 36 comments above, to deflect attention from the central premise advanced by Bill Farish’s thesis (”Williams’ Constitutional Cop-Out”) through a litany of red herrings, superfluous issues and/or disingenuous personal attacks (sticks and stones will break my bones…), they haven’t laid a glove on the central argument advanced in Bill’s opinion piece. The fact is that — as Bill Farish opines — a constitutional approach, which is now being surfaced by rattled Republicans like Damon Thayer to save their political hides, is dead-on-arrival in Frankfort. Until Senate Republican realize that the quarterbacking of Senator Williams is no longer productive and throw him out of their lifeboat, they are doomed to minority status beginning in 2011, if not sooner in the event of a party switch or two either via special election or otherwise.
October 20th, 2009 at 11:04 am
If 70% of Kentuckians want VLTs as Mr. Farish suggests, then this constitutional amendment should pass easily.
BTW, while we’re at it, the vote should be for full casino gambling, not just VLTs.
October 20th, 2009 at 11:57 am
I think it would be neat if Kentucky tracks, and racing in general, spent less time on looking for free money with slots and instead tried to raise horse race betting handles.
…… Just for a lark.
October 20th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
I applaud Mr. Farish for his article. I believe it to be fair and without bias. Mainstream your points of arguement and credibilty are immediately slighted by your choice to use a pseudonym, don’t be a “nameless horseman”…. If you have something to say take the options of your convictions and practice “full disclosure”….
October 20th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
To #41:
It’s hard to attract new fans and grow handle when the horse racing industry has given up on its own product.
October 20th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
When racing can’t stand on its own two feet in Kentucky of all places, what does that say about the product?
This is just a band-aid that will allow the big Lex farm owners to continue on with business as usual, just as they’ve done for decades as they brought racing to this very place.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
You know the argument is being lost when people start focusing on the identity of who is saying what rather than on what they’re saying.
October 20th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
#44:
It says the product needs to be improved, not propped up by subsidies.