- Target:
- The Commonwealth of Kentucky
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- savethehorses.info
"Citizens need to realize that they need their legislators to be more afraid of them, the constituents, than they are of their leadership in the House and Senate."
- Dana Perino (Former White House Press Secretary to George W. Bush)
Over 100,000 people in Kentucky depend on the success of the Horse industry for their livelihoods. These jobs and their economic impact are vital to the future of the Commonwealth.
Due to expanded gaming, racetracks in Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Florida, Louisiana and now Ohio, other states have substantially increased their race purses. As a result, owners, trainers, horses and the jobs that are associated with them are leaving. It has left Kentucky’s racing industry struggling for its life. Race days have been canceled and Kentucky racetracks are on the verge of closing. Kentucky Horse racing, the home of the Derby, is on the verge of meltdown.
Politicians in Frankfort have brushed this problem under the table for years, while jobs, and tax dollars have left for other states. If Frankfort doesn’t fix the problem soon, Kentucky will lose its signature industry.
By allowing slot machines only at Kentucky’s Horse Tracks, Kentucky leaders will allow the Horse Industry to:
* Become competitive with the surrounding states by increasing purses and return high quality racing to the Commonwealth.
* Direct new money to fund education which could bring upwards of $80 million in the first year alone.
We, the undersigned, fully support the effort to bring video lottery terminals to Kentucky racetracks. Allowing video lottery terminals at the tracks will increase revenue for the horse racing and breeding industry, non-race breeds, and the state of Kentucky.
We petition the General Assembly to respond to our urgent need and save Kentucky’s racing and breeding industry by passing the slot's bill in January that Governor Beshear backed and the state House approved in June 09.
It is our hope by uniting as an industry, it will only assist to safeguard our title as HORSE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. This will enhance inbound tourism and business and strengthen the state as we prepare for our prestigious guests: the top horses in the world, their owners, and nearly three quarters of a million fans of all breeds in the world for the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010.
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