In the latest attempt at industry thievery, Minnesota horsemen have been lobbying hard for the installation of “Historical Horse Racing” (HHR) terminals at their two tracks, Canterbury and Running Aces. And for now, it looks good, with the Racing Commission voting in their favor last week. These slot machines by another name would, of course, go to subsidize the dying racing industry there. Fortunately, some state legislators say the Commission overstepped and does not have the authority to approve these machines. In addition, Native American casino interests are fighting the proposal. And as well they should, for those casino interests have helped prop up horseracing for years.
Reporting on this latest development, BloodHorse writes: “Mystic Lake Casino [one of those NA interests] and Canterbury had an arrangement in which the casino provided funding for purses in exchange for the track not pursuing additional gaming revenue streams such as slot machines. In 2022, the final year of the agreement between Canterbury and Mystic Lake, $7.2 million of the $16 million in total purse money was provided by the casino. Last year, with the deal no longer in place, Canterbury’s total purse money dropped to $11 million.”
So, almost half of Canterbury’s purse money was coming from a decidedly unearned source. At the same time, there is a bill before the legislature that would legalize sports betting on mobile devices, with, crucially, revenue from that sports betting going to further prop up racing. Once again, fortunately, there are enlightened people resisting. Here is State Senator John Marty, in the Star Tribune Thursday:
“I don’t think taxpayers should be subsidizing gambling operations, period. When the tracks came in, they were going to generate lots of revenue for the state. And now they’re saying we’ve got to subsidize them with public money.”
Hear, hear. Please consider writing the senator in a show of support and appreciation.
Horse racing is Animal Cruelty which is a crime that needs to be taken seriously and punishment should be forthcoming by the judicial system.
Most of the subsidies could go to buying new books for the public schools and other programs that support families and their children to get a decent education and the hope of a future.
All these subsidies should end! The gaming $$ should be spent on benefits to people such as better health care & affordable housing & education not an industry that causes so much harm to horses & their caretakers.
If something cannot survive on its own….it should not exist. This “corporate welfare” is BULLSHIT.
Minnesota State Senator John Marty has spoken! Thank God for people who are not baffled by the b******* coming from the horse racing industry!