Racinos create jobs
More than 80 percent of Minnesotans are in favor of Racinos. The Racino bill in the Legislature will support higher education, create jobs in construction, hospitality and agriculture, and benefit the horse industry in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, the horse industry contributes $1 billion annually to the state’s economy, and the Racino legislation would help out all horse-related businesses including racing, breeding and other agriculture industries. Approximately $130 million per year would be available to promote the horse industry.
Sen. John Carlson (R-Dist. 4) voted no in committee on March 19 on the bill allowing Racinos in Minnesota. We need to let him know that Racino would help family-owned farms and all the related agricultural jobs everywhere in the state. The revenue – estimated at $250 per budget cycle – would also mean a quicker payback for the school shift that legislators used to balance the budget.
Minnesota needs to strengthen all areas of the horse industry and Racino is one way to accomplish that. Minnesota has the ninth largest horse population in the nation with more than 155,000 horses used in racing, breeding, showing and recreational riding. Call or email Sen. Carlson at 651-296-4913 or sen.john.carlson@senate.mn and tell him Racino needs his vote.
Greg Booth
Sunup Ranch
Rural Brainerd
Comments (5)
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Our legislators need to be held accountable for their lack of supporting votes when over 75% of Minnesotans are in favor of Racinos. They continue to support the Indian Gaming industry, that pays no taxes, in favor of an industry in the state that has been worth over $ one-two billion in annual economic activity. The racing industry needs to have a level playing field to attract horses to the state, provide competitive purses, and to retain the thousands of jobs that support the industry in Minnesota. The breeders are being forced to leave the state to make a living and it is safe to say that Canterbury and Running Aces are very close to closing. The Indians have no case for a court challenge according to the original compacts and their industry will hardly be affected by adding Racinos. As far as an expansion, the two tracks already have gambling. Their gambling venues are connected to live racing meets every year and without live racing, they will close. Period. The expansion of gambling as related to more casinos would be based on new racetracks and it is unlikely that there will be a proliferation of racetracks in Minnesota. It is time for the lefgislators to protect and strengthen an already existing industry at the cost of nothing to the taxpayers.
You can easily contact your legislators by going to www.leg.mn.
Every time you contact your legislator it makes them aware that they are going to be held accountable. If they get no emails, they are content with the status Quo. Are you?
Very good article
Greg! I have supported Racinos for many years. While I have yet to be to a horse race of that nature I am planning on getting to one this year!
PS If you read this Greg, this will let you know who I am. Ever since we moved Peppy his heaves have disappeared!
Why won't they listen?
I have encouraged some form of revenue bill to finally be passed in regard to casino or racino or pull tabs, whatever. I grew up in the southern part of the state and many many MN people go across the border to Diamond Jim's where the state receives part of the revenue. The time has come! Why aren't our legisators listening? They are spending too much time on trivial things like social amendments and voter ID. There is no revenue there.
Follow the money
Brainnews, If you attended the hearings at the capitol, you would be impressed with the number of representatives for Indian Gaming. As long as our representatives believe they are not being watched, they do as they please, do as the caucuses direct them. The caucuses do not have to report where they get their money. In order to beat the Indians at this game we MUST communicate often with our reps. and tell them to vote to save a $ Billion industry, vote for jobs, and vote for education. Racino will provide all of this and more but without it, Canterbury and Running Aces will soon close. There won't be enough horses here to run a meet ( takes 1300 on the track) and no out of state horses will come for our paltry purses. Say goodbye to all the state breeders and the vets, horseshoers, grain dealers and growers, trailer sales, truck dealers, hay vendors etc. that are supported by these farms. Say goodbye to 300o jobs at the tracks. Talk to your legislators directly. It only takes a couple minutes to send an email and to ask where they stand on these jobs the and education shift payback.