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| Anderson Herald Bulletin March 20, 2007 Horse Racing Industry Would Cash in on Slots By Rick Teverbaugh It’s not hard to put into words — or figures — what the arrival of slot machines at Hoosier Park would do for the horse racing industry in Indiana. The horse racing track in Chester, W.Va., Mountaineer Park, is a case study. Before the track became a racino, the average daily purse for horse races was $22,000. In the 10 years since the introduction of slot machines at Mountaineer Park, the daily purse has jumped to $160,000. The income derived from slot machines at Hoosier Park would be used in many ways. One of them would be to elevate the purse structure. Also, Indiana-based horses would be eligible for purse bonuses supported by slot-machine revenue. “It means everything,” said Ernie Gaskin, a trainer who spent $800,000 to open a farm for training horses just south of Anderson when it appeared that Hoosier Park would become a premier Midwest track. “It would mean I get to stay here.” Before Indiana Downs opened in Shelbyville in December 2002, Hoosier Park (opened in 1994) was on the upswing. Anderson track officials used expert testimony to try to convince the Indiana Horse Racing Commission that the time wasn’t right for a second track in the state. But approval was given for Indiana Downs anyway. “Indiana wasn’t ready for a second track,” Gaskin said. “Now we’re racing twice as long for the same amount of money. It takes a while to develop a fan base and, more important, an owner base.” Hoosier Park’s average daily purse has slipped regularly since the opening of Indiana Downs, partially because a government subsidy based on riverboat casino revenue got split in half instead of it all going to the Anderson track. Last year the average total purse for a day of racing dropped 4.5 percent from the previous year to about $113,000. “I would think you could be looking at thoroughbred purses being $230,000 a day” with slot-machine revenue applied, said Hoosier Park President Rick Moore. “The standardbred would be a little less than that. … (It) would easily be about a 70 percent increase.” The purse reduction has reduced the quality of horses that are brought to Hoosier Park to race. “We had more stakes races and more allowance races,” Moore said, alluding to the days before Indiana Downs. “We had all kinds of horses. Now we’re basically a claiming-type operation.” Claiming races are those where the owners enter the horses knowing that they could be purchased right after the race for an amount of money stipulated in the conditions for that race. That would change if purses go up. “You’re going to get the best horses, the best trainers, the best jockeys,” said Moore. “You’ll get the owners who have the money to breed that type of animal.” “Right now, it’s not that great,” said Gaskin. “I hate it that the horse racing industry has that monkey (gambling) on its back. I’ve never gambled a day in my life on horses.” Moore pointed out that Indiana’s neighboring states haven’t approved racinos, though many are trying. If House Bill 1835, which goes before a Senate committee today, passes, owners and trainers will again look more favorably upon Indiana as a place to breed and train horses. That investment will come right away,” said Moore. “If you’re not the first (state in the Midwest to get slot machines), then people will have already made that investment in another state. If we’re the first ones in the Midwest, you’re going to have horsemen setting up shop here because of the benefits from breeding in Indiana. That’s where the real impact is going to come from.” There are already other reasons why Indiana is a prime area for the horse racing industry. “You’ve got a state that’s conducive to this type of activity in that it’s flat, there’s still a lot of rural areas,” said Moore. “It’s perfect for the breeding operations.” The clock is ticking for the horse racing industry in Indiana. Not only are track operators in other states jockeying for racino approval, but many horsemen will be making some permanent choices about where to do business based on whether House Bill 1835 — or one similar to it — passes in Indiana soon.
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