Aqueduct Stable Area Closing For 6 weeks & The Michigan Thoroughbred Horsemen Continue To Be Ignored.

Aqueduct Backstretch to Close for Six Weeks.

By Blood-Horse Staff
Updated: Saturday, February 12, 2011 3:25 PM

Posted: Saturday, February 12, 2011 3:18 PM

Association has announced that the backstretch at Aqueduct will close for approximately six weeks to allow for additional construction time on Genting’s Resorts World New York casino.

The approximately 350 horses stabled at Aqueduct will be moved to Belmont Park starting on Monday, Feb. 14, with the move to be completed by Friday, Feb. 18.

Aqueduct will be closed for training starting Feb. 19 and will re-open on April 4, which will allow Genting uninterrupted construction time on the casino up until post time during the period of closure.

Training hours at Aqueduct had been 5:30-9 a.m. from Tuesday through Saturday.

End

How nice it must be. Here in Michigan the Gaming Control Board, Attorney General nor Pinnacle Race Course’s owner Jerry Campbell will even tell the Thoroughbred Horsemen/Women if they will even have a racing meet in 2011. I guess it’s a secret.

Remember Governor Snyder you stated ” And Leave No One Behind “.

But the Horsemen/Women here are much too quite, beyond patient and obviously slow to anger. Instead of waiting for someone to tell us something. I would FORCE THEM TO SPEAK. And in my view the only way to accomplish this feat is to Rise Up, Show Up, Shout Out and make it understood we are still Alive. And we won’t be ignored anymore.

GET IN THEIR FACE!

That means gathering about 1,000-2,000 Horsemen/Women with Horse Trailers and Horses, along with Agriculture people who supply the straw and hay. Go to Lansing and unload them all in front of the Capital Building with signs saying ” What About Us “.

It’s not enough just to put words on a website.

Mi. HBPA

 MGCB: The Michigan Gaming Control Board remains silent on their position regarding Pinnacle’s 2011 “conditional license”. Original date for conditions to be met was December 31, 2010, extensions have been given while Pinnacle’s response of January 12,2011 was being reviewed by the Attorney General. The HBPA, on regular basis, has attempted to gain meaningful information from both the MGCB and Pinnacle, unfortunately without any success. Our members deserve better, it is now February 11, 2011, and plans for their racing operations in 2011 are well underway. Unfortunately, plans are only being guided by rumors and uncertainty. It is impossible for the board to address the serious issues facing our industry and pursue options, when meaningful information is non-existent. Not many comments coming to the HBPA, based on public information, express a positive attitude about thoroughbred racing at Pinnacle in 2011. 

2/11

The Thoroughbred Horsemen and Woman must go forth with ACTION. And with us those whose jobs are connected to this Industry. Lansing isn’t reading your website and mine obviously also ignored. Not so easy when YOU’RE IN THEIR FACES.

We must show them WE DO EXIST.

~

So New York Race Tracks getting New Casino additions built and Michigan still sits on their ass crying broke. So what else is new?

Governor Snyder is going to announce a cut of $2 billion out of an $8 billion budget.

In the article an excerpt: Some sacred cows are going to get slaughtered. I have a feeling that it’s going to be more like sacred Horses and Race Tracks are going to get slaughtered. The Thoroughbred one anyway.

Again for the very very slow.

Delaware  

 

Racetrack Casinos

Current # of Operating Racinos		3
Public/Private Arrangement		Publicly run video lottery terminals with distributions to operators
Racino Employees		2,3631
Gross Racino Gaming Revenue		$564.24 million
Distributions to State/Local Government		$227.55 million
Percentage of Revenue Retained by Operator		43.1%
How Taxes Spent		General fund
Legalization Date		1994
First Racino Opening Date		1995
Mode of Legalization		Legislative action
Source:Delaware Lottery, individual properties 1Employment data from 2008 was used for one property in Delaware that declined to participate in the data collection.

Florida  

Racetrack Casinos

Current Number of Operating Racinos		4
Public/Private Arrangement		Privately operated facilities with slot machines
Racino Employeese		2,156
Gross Racino Gaming Revenue		$216.74 million
Distributions to State/Local Government		$108.37 million
Revenue Retained by Operator		50%1
How Taxes Spent		Statewide education
Legalization Date		2006
First Racino Opening Date		2006
Mode of Legalization		Statewide referendum, local option vote, legislative action
Source:Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, individual properties 1This figure only represents what operators retain after state taxes are collected.  It does not take into account what operators allocate to horse and dog breeders’ funds, local authorities and public gambling awareness.  Thus, the percentage of revenue retained by operators is actually significantly lower than this 50 percent figure.

Indiana  

Racetrack Casinos

Current # of Operating Racinos		2
Public/Private Arrangement		Privately operated facilities with slot machines
Racino Employees		1,847
Gross Racino Gaming Revenue		$420.10 million
Distributions to State/Local Governments		$115.27 million
Revenue Retained by Operator		54.7%
How Taxes Spent		Property tax fund, horse racing industry, local government and French Lick Resort
Legalization Date		2007
First Racino Opening Date		2008
Mode of Legalization		Legislative action
Sources: Casino Association of Indiana, Indiana Gaming Commission

Iowa  

Racetrack Casinos

Current # of Operating Racinos		3
Public/Private Arrangement		Privately operated facilities with slot machines and table games
Racino Employees		2,586
Gross Racino Gaming Revenue		$435.62 million
Distributions to State/Local Government		$101.13 million
Percentage of Revenue Retained by Operator		76.8%
How Taxes Spent		Infrastructure improvements, local government, general fund, schools and universities, the environment, tourism projects, cultural initiatives
Legalization Date		1994
First Racino Opening Date		1995
Mode of Legalization		Local option vote, legislative action
Source: Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission

Louisiana  

Racetrack Casinos

Current # of Operating Racinos		4
Public/Private Arrangement		Privately operated facilities with slot machines
Racino Employees		2,260
Gross Racino Gaming Revenue		$402.65 million
Distributions to State/Local Government		$74.29 million
Percentage of Revenue Retained by Operator		74.29%
How Taxes Spent		General fund, local parishes
Legalization Date		1994
First Racino Opening Date		1994
Mode of Legalization		Local option vote, legislative action
Source: Louisiana Gaming Control Board, individual properties

Maine  

Racetrack Casinos

Current # of Operating Racinos		1
Public/Private Arrangement		Privately operated facility with slot machines
Racino Employees		303
Gross Racino Gaming Revenue		$59.20 million
Distributions to State/Local Govt		$29.08 million
Revenue Retained by Operator		50.9%
How Taxes Spent		Education, health care, agriculture, gambling control board administration and city of Bangor
Legalization Date		2004
First Racino Opening Date		2005
Mode of Legalization		Local option vote, legislative action
Source: Maine Gambling Control Board, Penn National Gaming, Inc.

New Mexico  

Racetrack Casinos

Current # of Operating Racinos		5
Public/Private Arrangement		Privately operated facilities with slot machines
Racino Employees		1,446
Gross Racino Gaming Revenue		$243.94 million
Distributions to State/Local Government		$63.42 million
Percentage of Revenue Retained by Operator		54%
How Taxes Spent		General fund, problem gambling treatment
Legalization Date		1997
First Racino Opening Date		1999
Mode of Legalization		Legislative action
Source: New Mexico Gaming Control Board, individual properties

New York  

Racetrack Casinos

Current # of Operating Racinos		8
Public/Private Arrangement		Publicly run video lottery terminals with distributions to operators
Racino Employees		3,180
Gross Racino Gaming Revenue		$1.019 billion
Distributions to State/Local Government		$455.48 million
Percentage of Revenue Retained by Operator		35.0%
How Taxes Spent		Education
Legalization Date		2001
First Racino Opening Date		2004
Mode of Legalization		Legislative action
Source: New York Racing and Wagering Board, New York Lottery

Oklahoma  

Racetrack Casinos

Current # of Operating Racinos		2
Public/Private Arrangement		Privately operated facilities with slot machines
Racino Employees		1,0972
Gross Racino Gaming Revenue		$94.13 million
Distributions to State/Local Governments		$13.78 million
Revenue Retained by Operator		58.2%
How Taxes Spent		Education
Legalization Date		2004
First Racino Opening Date		2005
Mode of Legalization		Statewide question on ballot
Source:Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission, State of Oklahoma – Office of the State Auditor and Inspector 1Employment numbers for Oklahoma racinos are based on the three properties that were open during 11 months of 2009. At the end of 2009, only two properties remained open.

Pennsylvania  

Racetrack Casinos

Current # of Operating Racinos		6
Public/Private Arrangement		Privately operated facilities with slot machines
Racino Employees		5,799
Gross Racino Gaming Revenue		$1.579 billion
Distributions to State/Local Governments		$742.69 million
Revenue Retained by Operator		45%
How Taxes Spent		Property tax relief, economic development, tourism, horse racing industry, host local government
Legalization Date		2004
First Racino Opening Date		2006
Mode of Legalization		Legislative action
Source: Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, individual properties

Rhode Island  

Racetrack Casinos

Current # of Operating Racinos		2
Public/Private Arrangement		Publicly run video lottery terminals with distributions to operators
Racino Employees		1,3001
Gross Racino Gaming Revenue		$461.17 million
Distributions to State/Local Government		$292.09 million (FY 2009)
Percentage of Revenue Retained by Operator		27.3%2
How Taxes Spent		General fund
Legalization Date		1992
First Racino Opening Date		1992
Mode of Legalization		Legislative action
Source:Rhode Island Lottery, individual properties 12008 employment data was used for one property in Rhode Island that declined to participate in data collection this year. 2 FY 2009 data was used to calculate revenue retained by operator.

West Virginia  

Racetrack Casinos

Current # of Operating Racinos		4
Public/Private Arrangement		Publicly run video lottery terminals with distributions to operators; table games in three locations
Racino Employees		4,688
Gross Racino Gaming Revenue		$905.59 million
Distributions to State/Local Governments		$408.37 million
Revenue Retained by Operator		43.3%
How Taxes Spent		Education, senior citizens, tourism
Legalization Date		1994
First Racino Opening Date		1994
Mode of Legalization		Local option vote, legislative action
Source: West Virginia Lottery, individual properties

TOP 10 U.S. RACETRACK CASINO MARKETS BY ANNUAL REVENUE

Gross revenue is earnings before taxes, salaries and expenses are paid — the equivalent of sales, not profit.

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Racetrack Casino Market		2009 Annual Revenues
1 Yonkers, N.Y.		$540.50 million
2 Charles Town, W. Va.		$424.33 million
3 Indianapolis, Ind.		$420.10 million
4 Providence, R.I.		$399.66 million
5 Bensalem, Pa.		$359.27 million
6 Dover/Harrington, Del.		$329.20 million
7 Chester, Pa.		$315.94 million
8 Meadow Lands, Pa.		$278.47 million
9 Delaware Park/Wilmington, Del.		$235.03 million
10 Chester, W. Va.		$232.61 million

http://www.americangaming.org/Industry/factsheets/statistics_detail.cfv?id=36

 

2009 Racetrack Casino Tax Revenue
Delaware		$227.55 million
Florida		$108.37 million
Indiana		$115.27 million
Iowa		$101.13 million
Louisiana		$74.29 million
Maine		$29.08 million
New Mexico		$63.42 million
New York		$455.48 million
Oklahoma		$13.78 million
Pennsylvania		$742.69 million
Rhode Island		$292.09 million
West Virginia		$408.37 million
TOTAL		$2.63 billion

 Source:

State Gaming Regulatory Agencies (5/10)

You are just plain STUPID MICHIGAN.

Raceway Park in Toledo is closing, patrons there already stating they’ll just have to drive further to the nearest race tracks in MICHIGAN. And Pinnacle Race Course is the nearest Race Track to Toledo.

You think only Detroit Casino Revenue is going to hold you up? If that were the case 2 $Billion Dollars wouldn’t have to be slashed.

Get a Brain and some Guts. Only ones getting rich in this State is the politicians getting their pockets stuffed from 3 commercial Casinos.

What does that do for these rest of the citizens here?

As far as that goes why not let the Thoroughbreds go back to where it all started in 1933.

The Detroit Fairgrounds.

That would suit us just fine. And Detroit would have the 4th commercial casino in the form of a RACINO. A lot that could be done with those 164 acres that are just sitting empty there now. The State Fair could be Re-Opened as well with the added revenue. That way we all win.

MIHBPA, MTOBA & AGRICULTURE STOP WAITING AROUND FOR A RESPONSE FROM THIS STATE. SHOW UP IN LANSING AND DEMAND ONE.

~

GOVERNOR SNYDER, ARE WE RACING IN 2011?

Every single day that goes by without answers, total uncertainty of what plans to make and what to do. They still have to feed their Horses and pay their bills regardless. How can all of you just sit there with total silence, ignoring all these individuals enquiries as if they don’t count or exist? Why are there no answers coming from anybody?

You have already lied Governor. You have already LEFT US BEHIND.

~

Talking about looking a gift horse in the mouth.

How much better Michigan could do in the Generating Revenue Dept. and save a Industry in the process.