A serious question

[Tim_T]

David Williams constantly fights against getting casino gambling on the ballot for all Kentuckians to vote on it. Is it because he:
1.) hates Kentucky and the thousands of people that work in the horse industry and Kentuckians in general.

2.) Is in the pocket of Indiana Casinos that he does business with and makes sure that they get no competition?

Just curious.

http://www.kentucky.com/2011/04/02/1...gnificant.html

[artcarney_agr]

Number 2.

I would like to know who was a major donor for his run for governor. That might confirm and answer your question.

[Chubminnow]

Number 2.

I would like to know who was a major donor for his run for governor.

His father inlaw...

[Netboy Extraordinaire]

I need to clarify one of my comments. I said Churchill Downs was in trouble, and they are. What keeps Churchill afloat is the fact that they own Calder in Florida, Arlington Park in Illinois, Fair Grounds in La. Plus own simulcast rights to Indiana Downs, Hollywood Park and other tracks in states where gaming is allowed. They also own HRTV. My father in law owns thousands of shares of Churchill Downs stock and he gets quarterly reports, to which I have seen. Churchill has lost money EVERY live fall meet for the past 6 years and if you took out Oaks and Derby Day handle would have lost in the spring meet as well over 6 years.

[Chubminnow]

Churchill has lost money EVERY live fall meet for the past 6 years and if you took out Oaks and Derby Day handle would have lost in the spring meet as well over 6 years.

I gues what you say might be true...I don't know for sure. as far as "IF's" are concerned...IF it wasn't for the Derby and Oaks they would have showed a lost...., "IF" so-n-so didn't get into foul trouble, "IF" Leroy would have hit his foul shots, "IF" my aunt had an apple sack she would have been my uncle, etc...I guess the FACT is they come out ok in the spring. When was the last time the Breeders Cup was at Churchill? They didn't make money in the fall of that year? hmmm...That surprises me...please give me a link to where you're getting your information from, I'd like to read it.

I also guess what you say is true about the other tracks they own is what's helping to keep them afloat, I don't know...I haven't dug into it...and guess I don't care enough to dig into it to find out.

More money, more money, more money....what good is more money? I still think some group of shiny suit politicians will find more ways to spend more money...it's been said here before on other threads, live within your means...same thing applies for every aspect of life where money is concerned.

I tend to think another reason why the horse racing industry is hurting is because it's not as popular amongst the younger generation of today as it was with the younger generation of yesterday. To many Ipod's, Ipad's, facebook, social networking, cars, motorcycles, ATV's, CD's, MP3's. DVD's, etc...plenty of things to occupy a young persons mind now days compared to the days of yesterday. I only hear of a select few youngin's who get together to go to Churchill Downs...but I do hear about some of them getting together every now and then and hitting a casino. Two things that have helped Churchill's spring meet are their Friday afternoon Happy Hour thing they have and now night racing under the lights...come to think of it I have heard of some younger folks going to the track for these events...I don't know how much they're wagering but I do know they hit the track more because of these two things.

[Netboy Extraordinaire]

I don't follow politics but do know this guy is an idiot. Casinos in Kentucky is good for the state on every level. Start with all the Casino jobs that are created, which are pretty good paying jobs. Then the tax dollars the Casino generates for the state. Part of the revenue from the Casino is used to increase purse money at the horse tracks. Increased purse money equals more trainers and owners that keep their horses running in state. More horses equal more full fields, better betting interest in races which brings in more handle at the tracks more revenue at the tracks and such. We have an easy way to create jobs, save jobs and increase revenue for the state and a few idiots block that from happening.

Kentucky is slowly but surely losing it's status as the greatest horse breeding state. As long as states like Indiana, West Virginia, Illinois and Pennsylvania (geographically close) have Casino money added to purse money, they will continue to offer claiming races that pay 3-4 times what you would get for the same race here. Then when tracks add in additional money for "State Bred" horses, if I was a horse owner I would want my breeding and racing operation in a "Casino State". The horse racing industry is only alive because of Claiming horses. Keeneland is the home of the Blueblood Stakes and Allowance horses and the 25,000 that attend each day for 3 weeks in the fall and spring and what they wager pays for Keeneland. Compare that to Churchill any day except Oaks and Derby Day, Ellis Park and Turfway and they are ghost towns on track and don't get nearly the handle that they once did. It is ok for Williams to lose Tens of Thousands of dollars at other states Casinos and support them but not ok to help his own state. I say give Williams a pitch fork and let him muck stalls until he sees the light

[zx150]

#2. Why people re-elect him I don't know.

[Brandon__]

#2. Why people re-elect him I don't know.

because people vote via party lines and not use their brain mostly

[waterdog101]

because people vote via party lines and not use their brain mostly

great answer, not all but most people vote a strait ticket for their party, voting for people they know nothing about by doing so.

[artcarney_agr]

I don't follow politics but do know this guy is an idiot.

That's an understatement.

Here's a couple of older reads that might interest you about the casino in Harrison Co. Indiana....


http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.com...rticleID=44352

http://www.in.gov/igc/files/caesars-1.pdf

[mhall]

Right on boys.....
Williams is a crook, always has been and always will be. His grubby pockets are being lined heavily by Indiana casino's..

Even his annoying arrogant voice makes me wanna hurl....Can't stand the Pompeous Ass.

[apb]

... Casinos in Kentucky is good for the state on every level....

Not exactly. The unfortunate thing about casinos is that they also bring in crime and plenty of other social problems. Yes, the state ends up with some extra tax monies, but the local area gets screwed on the rest of the stuff.

Andrew