KY & Ohio Horse Racing News.. It’s Called Progress Michigan.

KY Downs to Launch Instant Racing Sept. 1

Instant Racing, known as “historical racing” is a pari-mutuel system that allows players to wager on previously run horse races in a video lottery terminal-like format.

WXYZ Detroit Full Of Holes Reporting Concerning Pinnacle Race Course.

Talk about SHODDY REPORTING.

This station has been on some rampage concerning executive director Robert Ficano for months now. Last week on July 27th Mary Conway’s entire story was how Bob Ficano threw away $35 Million on Pinnacle Race Course.

I addressed that unfair attack in a blog.

And all I’m addressing is stories they are doing on Pinnacle and nothing else. But again on Wednesday’s 6:00PM news cast they managed to again drag Pinnacle into another one of their stories over the hiring of another Wayne County official for the airport. Video in the backdrop of Pinnacle with our horsemen and horses.

Heather Catallo did this story.

How in the hell do you take a story about an individual you don’t feel has the experience for the position they’ve been hired to do at the airport and somehow within that story bring up the race track again.

Same rant on both of these stories within 10 days of each other. Pinnacle failed to produce the number of jobs expected.

Look WXYZ if you want the heads of Ficano and any other appointee for a position within Wayne County that’s one thing, but if you want to start talking a bunch of untrue bunk about Pinnacle’s failure to do this or that. Then damn it let’s talk about why Pinnacle was unable to fulfill these job expectations fairly and with truth.

You want to talk Horse Racing Industry let’s get down to it.

Michigan And Jerry Campbell Letting Bob Ficano Take The Heat For Pinnacle Race Course

And it is all BULLSHIT.

WXYZ VIDEO: Wayne County Exec. Ficano responds to audit critical of Pinnacle deal

Detroit Free Press

Audit says Wayne County blew $35.2 million on investment plan

Both the Newspaper and flip side on WXYZ are making Bob Ficano out some devious schemer when he’s anything but. Let’s get something straight here on both of these news media outlets including the Free Press quoting some off the wall right-wing source ( Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Michigan Capitol Confidential ) that Michael LaFaive of the Mackinac Center is apart of. I addressed these group long ago when nothing but bashings of this Race Track were constantly being bombarded on.

Yet The Michigan Capitol Confidential eventually came out with was a very accurate article WHY Pinnacle never had a chance from the beginning.

‘Schizophrenic’ State Planning.

Excerpt:

The state of Michigan and Wayne County showered millions upon millions of tax dollars on the Pinnacle Race Course in Huron Township in 2008. The track was seen as the start of a tourist attraction that would draw fans from surrounding states and Canada, create thousands of jobs and generate millions in state revenue.

Yet state legislators and state government roadblocks were damaging the very project they were pumping millions of dollars of incentives into, leading to what one expert called a “schizophrenic behavior.”

Michigan Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association Have Lost Their Minds.

In 2010 the HBPA voted to give all their money to Pinnacle Race Course. Almost a Million dollars to fund their own meet. I know Jerry and Lisa Campbell were happy about that vote.

To finish their extremely long meet of 41 ( they had to buy back 39 days after the MGCB knocked the Thoroughbreds to just 3 ) days the money literally came from their purses. Hell they even forked out $33,000 to pay Pinnacle’s water bill to Huron Township.

Then they questioned the legalities of it all.

Well now in 2011 after Jerry Campbell not willing to tell anybody of his intentions for 2011 when it was already May. One of the MIHBPA board members had a brilliant idea!!!

Lets send off a letter to the MGCB withdrawing our support of PRC. They never ever had to give one of support so why they decided to send one withdrawing support is beyond me. Nevertheless it resulted in the MGCB telling Campbell either shit or get off the pot.

He got off the pot alright and after wiping his ass with his conditional license he threw it back into the MGCB’s face and in essence the MIHBPA’s as well.

Enter Brilliant Idea Number 2!!!

OHIO One Signature Away From VLT’S At Their Race Tracks

Ohio Legislature Passes Racetrack VLT Bill

By Tom LaMarra – BloodHorse
Updated: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 9:53 PM
Posted: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 8:39 AM

In a flurry of activity June 28 both houses of the Ohio General Assembly passed legislation allowing racetracks to apply for video lottery terminal licenses.

Bible Thumpers trying to kill livelihoods in Ohio on Race Track VLTs Proposal

Ohio Policy Group: VLT Plan Violates Law

OHIO Racetrack VLTs Next?

OH Casinos Move Forward; Racetrack VLTs Next?

By Tom LaMarra – BloodHorse
Updated: Monday, June 13, 2011 8:20 PM
Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 2:28 PM

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has reached an agreement that will resume construction on casinos in Cincinnati and Cleveland—and according to published reports permit video lottery terminals at the state’s seven racetracks.

Pinnacle Race Course does not owe Huron Twp. as much as previously thought.

HURON TWP.: Township Treasurer says Pinnacle owes less than what was originally thought

Illinois Racetracks Approved for Slots by the Senate

Bill is now headed to the Governor.

Governor Snyder Re-Instate The Office Of Racing Commisioner

In 2009 Michigan Governor Granholm after 75 years threw Horse Racing here to the wolves. Citing this reason the ORC was being dissolved: NO MORE FUNDING available.

Well it would seem now Michigan has a surplus of $429,000,000.00 and doesn’t know what to do with it. And everybody and their cousin is after it. Wasn’t the Lottery designed to fund the schools? Then why aren’t they?

Since 1933 there was an Industry that at one time generated over $400 Million per year to this State and it was HORSE RACING.

Thoroughbred Racing Back In The City Of Detroit At The Fairgrounds?

Now that Pinnacle Race Course has made its decision.

Michigan Rep. Cindy Denby scheduled a legislative EQUINE CAUCUS for Today.

House Bill 4151 (2011)

Sponsors  Cindy Denby – (primary)
Eileen Kowall, Kenneth Kurtz, Kevin Daley, Bill Rogers

Categories  Gaming, horse racing

Meetings    Agriculture 4/13/2011

Gaming; horse racing; gaming control board; require representation of equine industry interests. Amends sec. 4 of 1996 IL 1 (MCL 432.204).

Documents
The following bill formatting applies to the 2011-2012 session:
– New language in an amendatory bill will be shown in BOLD AND UPPERCASE.
– Language to be removed will be stricken.
– Amendments made by the House will be blue with square brackets, such as: [House amended text].

So what is House Bill 4151 ( 2011 ) ?

Essentially requiring 1 of the 5 members of the MGCB to be a  A Representative of the Equine Industry.

Michigan is Yours – While Horse Racing Dies

Minnesota State Senator & Representative Introduce Racino Legislation

Racino Legislation Introduced in Minnesota

Oaklawn Park Increases Purses for the third time this year. But then Arkansas Gave Oaklawn Further Gaming in 2006 making this Race Track a RACINO.

Oaklawn Boosts Purses for Third Time

Michigan’s Hypocritical Attitude on Gaming ~ From Casinos to Charity Casinos but continue to Say No to the Horse Racing Tracks.

Kathie Oviedo Named Deputy Commissioner of Charitable Gaming

Jan. 2011

Pinnacle Race Course’s Troubled Track and Horsemen

Pinnacle in Negotiations for 2011 Race Dates

Gorham said the Campbells are currently trying to work out a deal with the HBPA and the Michigan Gaming and Control Board to host a 2011 race meet.

Many right now would like to know what Bob Gorham is talking about? Including other Board Members. Pinnacle has met with the MGCB, but neither them nor Campbell will discuss a thing with the MIHBPA. So why is Bob Gorham telling the BloodHorse that Pinnacle is in negotiations with the HBPA?

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

Aqueduct Backstretch to Close for Six Weeks.

Purses Increase Again at the Fair Grounds

Fair Grounds Hikes Purses Another 5 Percent

Gov. Rick Snyder’s inaugural speech. “and not leave some behind” Does this include The Michigan Horse Racing Industry?

Wednesday evening was Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s first address to the state.

I want to focus on specific key points of his inaugural speech on Jan. 1st, and I want to show clear cut statistics how much more the horse racing Industry can contribute to the State of Michigan.

Racetracks vs. Racinos. It not hard to see which ones are thriving and which are dying.Charles Town & Louisiana Up in Handle & Purse Increases.

Charles Town Reports 8.1% Jump in 2010 Handle

Hialeah Park gets Slots

Slots keep Rolling in and Race Horses keep Shipping out in Michigan

Gun Lake Casino in Wayland Twp. receives slot machines

New Jersey’s Legislation goes backward on Horse Racing. Talking about doing an About Face?

When States Hire Task Force to Investigate Legislative Bills on Gaming. Who always wins out?

Illinois Racetracks Next On The Block For Slots?

Illinois Senate OKs Gaming Bill; House Next