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20
May 2008
Horsemen
Race To Capitol
Horse
racing organizations from across
Illinois have said that putting
Slot
Machines
at Illinois' five racetracks
would provide enough revenue to
finance a $20 billion capital
improvement program for the state
and help preserve the 40,000
agribusiness jobs associated with
the sport.
Members
from six horsemen associations
representing standardbred,
thoroughbred and quarter horses
came to Springfield to tell their
story to lawmakers and to show
how the state could fund
desperately needed capital
construction projects for roads,
schools and other public
infrastructure
projects.
At
an estimated net to the state of
$2 billion annually from slot
machines at racetracks, financial
experts say more than $20 billion
could be bonded for a state
capital construction program.
Horsemen say the impasse over a
capital plan can be addressed
simply and swiftly by placing
slot machines at the tracks,
locations where wagering already
takes place. Gaming proposals
currently under consideration in
the Illinois General Assembly
outline how the addition of slot
machines at racetracks can fund
major capital programs for badly
needed roads, bridges, and
schools.
"Not
only will slot machines fund the
state's capital program, they
will bolster one of Illinois'
leading agribusinesses, the horse
industry, which already pumps
billions of dollars a year into
the state's economy," said Bill
Wright, Chairman of the Illinois
Horse Racing Strategic Planning
Council. "The jobs from horse
racing need to be preserved and
we are in Springfield to show
lawmakers the faces and stories
behind these jobs."
Nearly
every other state in America that
races horses also offers forms of
casino gaming at their tracks,
and those states have reaped huge
benefits for doing so. As one of
the only states without this kind
of revenue enhancer, Illinois has
neglected the valuable economic
engine of horseracing resulting
in a steady outflow of prominent
stables, horses, trainers,
drivers and jockeys who have left
the state for "greener pastures."
Other states are capturing untold
millions of dollars that belong
in Illinois because they have put
revenue enhancers in place that
lead to bigger purses and better
payouts.
"Bigger
purses attract better horses
which translates into more horse
farms and more jobs," said Greg
Szymski from the Illinois
Thoroughbred Horsemen's
Association. "That in turn leads
to more money from taxes that
flow to the state."
"Casino
Gaming
at racetracks is one option that
doesn't raise general taxes and
provides an ongoing revenue
source able to bond billions of
dollars in new vital programs,"
said Lanny Brooks of the
Horseman's Benevolent and
Protective
Association.
Added
George Bononmo of the Illinois
Harness Horsemen's Association,
"If horse racing is left to
slowly fade away, state coffers
will lose jobs and therefore
income taxes, sales taxes, motor
fuel taxes and a host of other
economic benefits. This plan is a
trifecta win for
Illinois."
"With
wagering already taking place at
all Illinois race tracks, the
installation of other gaming
options is not an expansion of
gambling anymore than the casinos
adding more positions to their
existing facilities," said Gene
Allen of the Quarter Horse
Association.
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