BLUEGRASS BLOWOUT: POLL SHOWS KY WANTS SLOTS
After months of back and forth between Republicans in the Senate and Democrats in the House and Governor’s Mansion, the people have finally spoken out on the issue…and they want slots. A new WHAS11/Courier-Journal Bluegrass poll shows that 59% support slots while only 37% oppose them.
This is welcome news for those in the Kentucky Thoroughbred industry. However, it’s not all sunshine here as the poll also indicates 85% in favor of letting the people decide, not the legislature.
Then come back to the Paulick Report and let us know what you think
Tags: Bluegrass poll, bradford cummings, Courier-Journal, Democrats, Governor's Mansion, House, kentucky thoroughbred industry, Paulick Report, Republicans, Senate, WHAS11
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:05 am
Concerning the 85 %, I suspect you would get a similarly high poll number if you asked respondents whether the people should get to vote on whether a judicial decision should be reversed, or vote on every part of the biennial budget.
The point remains that the industry has already begun dying. The Republican (David Williams) proposal to require first an amendment saying slots are illegal, followed by a second amendment then authorizing them, followed by a local referendum in each city, with the resulting licenses given to compete directly with the racetracks that need support is simply the coup de grace to finish the industry off.
The special election yesterday was won by a Democrat, as were two of the three special elections last year for senate. Let the people vote this fall, and let the legislature do what it is supposed to do: pass laws.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:00 am
You may WANT it.
Hey, you might even NEED it.
But your politicians ain’t gonna GIVE it.
Government in action.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:48 am
This poll is one more reason to negotiate with Thayer, fine-tune his bill, and roll the dice on the referendum. It’s the KY horse industry’s best shot.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:24 am
What I find problematic is that in many places where slots have been an issue hooked to racing, the resulting product is either painfully slow in implementation or down right dead via take-out from the gaming entity, the government, etc.
Seems the guys pushing the slots under the guise of gambling at the racetrack, so allow slots (or table games) seem to find a way to remove more revenue in the end from the racing parties and essentially distance themselves from the racing product. IOW, pretty much do whatever the hell THEY want.
I’m starting to understand the anti-slots, save racing camp’s position. In the long run, it doesn’t seem to help the sport.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:32 am
The 85 per cent is what matters here, Brad. Humbly offered: The “industry” should drop its Soprano’s take out strategy and concentrate on a statewide vote. It’s obvious that the tracks are fearful of not being guaranteed licenses, but who’s guaranteed anything? Heck, there’s no guarantee that should KEEP line up the legislature they way they want that the “industry” could guarantee the end result of legislative logrolling. Right now this is all World War 1 trench war fare and no one is winning.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:05 am
The 85% polling number reflects just how sick of government the people are - not just on this question, but on every virtually every question heretofore left to government’s devices. Government is failing across the country at every level
I bet if you asked people anywhere the following question - “Do you want your legislature to decide (fill in the blank) or would you rather vote on it directly, yourself?” - a substantial majority would prefer to vote for themselves in every case. Government has proven over and over that it cannot be trusted to get much of anything right.
We put slots to save horseracing on the ballot in Maryland - the people said yes - and the government managed to screw it up anyway.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:34 am
Noelle,
You are dead on.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:44 am
Noelle:
Good post.
I don’t think the government screwed it up in Maryland…they stole it from the electorate under “rules” and the failure of the MD track owner(s) to qualify for the bid. Still, I think that is something that the govtrolls were planning on. To that extent…the initiative is screwed up and so are they.
Read the Paulick link to the DeFrancis interview…sounds good, but wasn’t he and the fam there all along???? They sold and are now interested????? What a mess.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:33 pm
A poll does not mean much unless the way the questions are crafted is known and unequivocal answers can be given. Never forget, Tom Dewey was elected President by a landslide - by the pollsters!
The message being given is: Kentucky’s breeding industry cannot survive without slots at tracks. Is that based on a faulty assumption?
On it’s face, the argument suggests that all horses bred in Kentucky race in Kentucky or race ONLY in Kentucky. We know that is not the fact. Kentucky breds are, so to speak, exported. So that leads to the thought that if Kentucky-breds are the best, why can’t the breeding industry survive or thrive on exports?
I am not an arithmetician. Maybe someone with that skill can pull together the data of the number of KY-breds that get to the track (many never do) at ages - say- 2, 3 and 4, then compare that to the number of races staged in Kentucky in a year. Races in 2009 would seem to be as good a base as any.
We might learn that racing in Kentucky is not so essential to the health or life of Kentucky breeding. My guess is it will confirm the idea that top quality is the only type that will continue to attract buyers who race outside Kentucky.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:05 pm
What happens when the slots parlors and the weak demographics that they attract finally tap out? What’s the solution to save Kentucky racing at that point? Legalize prostitution to save slots and the racetracks? When the wizards in Harrisburg take back all the PA incentive programs to hire 1000 sewer inspectors for Westmoreland County; and Penn National Gaming decides to close that oval sand trap in the back and concentrate on betting on clog dancing, then what? What are we going to do with all those mediocre mares and stallions now standing on rocks that we sent to those cow farmers in Pennsylvania? Whine?
I’m all for a level playing field for racing in Kentucky. Sure Churchill could use bigger purses, but becoming the shill for their casino dreams in Louisville is no guarantee that they won’t turn the track into a parking lot for the Sodom and Gomorrah Casino and Family Park. Want to save horse racing? Get government completely out of horse racing.
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Garrett, the KY breeders need a close place to run their horses that RNA at the sales.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:04 pm
right on zoltar. slots will eventually ruin racing. to help the greatest game we should lower day rates and take outs. cut racetrack management wages. provide modern backstretch housing by using one percent of winners purse for development. the writings on the wall and the —-s in the fan. if the game cant support itself then there should be less racing.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Garrett Redmond–you make a heap of good sense, even for a Red Man. You must not have gone to the white man’s school.
February 4th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Barry Irwin - I am a graduate of U of HKBE. Hard Knocks & Bitter Experience.
It does knock a bit of sense into a hard head, but it is usually too late to learn from it!
February 4th, 2010 at 11:35 am
Really? Don’t get me wrong, I’m in agreement with you partly, but when you make a statement like this you really have to be ready to defend it.
February 5th, 2010 at 1:52 am
Oh for Christ’s sake - if racing doesn’t give up the drugs it’s dead anyway. Just stop it.