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ISSUE 6
Oct 12, 2008 9:54:30 GMT -5
Post by racefanmike on Oct 12, 2008 9:54:30 GMT -5
Kieth, I see that the tracks have taken up against issue 6. Very dissapointing. The casino will be a 2 1/2 hour drive from Northfield, 3 hours from Cleveland. With many casino's within a 2 hour or less drive from anywhere in Ohio, whats the difference? The "Loopholes" are grossly exagerated, and it will employ Ohioans, who otherwise will not have any work. In a part of the state where jobs have been scarce for many, many years.
The argument, "we can't, so niether should they", is just selfish.
You once said "when life serves you lemons, make lemonade" regarding keno. Seems like once a casino is in Ohio, after a year or so. The racetracks can legitamately cry "poor mouth", but instead of making it about the racetracks and their moguls, make it all about the people and horses involved in racing. The breeders, the caretakers, the grooms, trainers, drivers, farmers, ferriers. And don't forget to mention the rich history of racing in Ohio. From the fairgrounds at Delaware and the Little Brown Jug, to the racing at county fairs throughout Ohio. And how Ohio has produced so many of the sports greatest stars. Kieth, there are more advantages for racetracks to make there case, once a casino opens in Ohio. Every other state that got either riverboats or casino's in there states, has eventually included the tracks, by subsidizing them, or allowing slots at the tracks. Make lemonade Kieth.
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ISSUE 6
Oct 13, 2008 10:58:35 GMT -5
Post by thegiss on Oct 13, 2008 10:58:35 GMT -5
Racefan, you are entitled to your opinion.
There is a fundamental constitutional problem with Issue 6-- it asks the constitution to be amended for one expcetion, nothing more. There is NOTHING in the legislation that implies that down the road things woudl change, and if anything, chnanges, if they do occur, would be toward the resort-type casino.
A number of studies-- some independent, some funded by vested interests show that the amount to the state or counties is grossly overstated. I have spent time in Wilmington and cannot imagine visiting a resort site there.
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ISSUE 6
Oct 13, 2008 18:30:14 GMT -5
Post by tautog on Oct 13, 2008 18:30:14 GMT -5
I don't live in Ohio but if I did Issue 6 would get my no vote. This was discussed on another board quite heavily and almost every horsemen said vote "no".
I don't think NF would be alive more than a few years if it passed as it's handle is down now . Even though it's a different subject most illegal operations have dropped NF from their list of tracks joining infamous Yonkers and a host of others. Plus with Chester and probably others going to night racing next year the betting dollar will be stretched even further. They get no handle now but with slots it doesn't make a difference to them LBJ week had a bigger handle.
Lebanon has cut purses if you want NF to stay alive vote "NO"!!!
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ISSUE 6
Oct 16, 2008 15:09:24 GMT -5
Post by racefanmike on Oct 16, 2008 15:09:24 GMT -5
Kieth, I agree with you about Wilmington, it's no-whereville man. anyone within an hour drive of NFLD , will continue to visit the out of state slots, they are closer. That is to say that it will not hurt NFLD's handle, it will only open the door for slots in Ohio. Then tracks can make there case, based on the number of "Ohioans" racing employes. And no, it does not mention opening anything up for tracks... But, once the ice is broken, it will be a much easier case for the tracks to make, especially when you consider all the people racing in Ohio employs. Every other attempt the tracks have tried ,has in fact, gone down in flames. Just seemed like a good time to think outside of the box.
Tautog, a couple of tracks in Ohio will not make it to 2010 with or without slots. Lebanon, Thisledown and River Downs come to mind, because nobody bets those tracks, and they are run down already.
Anyhow, I just want good racing in Ohio to survive, but it's becoming less and less likely. All the good overnight racers are gone. All the best drivers are gone. Midland farms breeders is up for auction... With them goes Ohio's best mares and studs. Time to try another angle, because good or bad, if issue 6 failes the chances of anyone getting slots in Ohio is dead.
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ISSUE 6
Oct 17, 2008 11:35:08 GMT -5
Post by thegiss on Oct 17, 2008 11:35:08 GMT -5
Kieth, I agree with you about Wilmington, it's no-whereville man. anyone within an hour drive of NFLD , will continue to visit the out of state slots, they are closer. That is to say that it will not hurt NFLD's handle, it will only open the door for slots in Ohio. Then tracks can make there case, based on the number of "Ohioans" racing employes. And no, it does not mention opening anything up for tracks... But, once the ice is broken, it will be a much easier case for the tracks to make, especially when you consider all the people racing in Ohio employs. Every other attempt the tracks have tried ,has in fact, gone down in flames. Just seemed like a good time to think outside of the box. Tautog, a couple of tracks in Ohio will not make it to 2010 with or without slots. Lebanon, Thisledown and River Downs come to mind, because nobody bets those tracks, and they are run down already. Anyhow, I just want good racing in Ohio to survive, but it's becoming less and less likely. All the good overnight racers are gone. All the best drivers are gone. Midland farms breeders is up for auction... With them goes Ohio's best mares and studs. Time to try another angle, because good or bad, if issue 6 failes the chances of anyone getting slots in Ohio is dead. Racefan, I hear what you are sayign but I disagree. This issue locks down the constitution with one casino-- it in no way, shape or form opens the door. If it did, or we thought it did, even if a few years down the road, we would support it.
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ISSUE 6
Oct 17, 2008 15:24:11 GMT -5
Post by trackrat on Oct 17, 2008 15:24:11 GMT -5
As a voter, I would be opposed to any constitutional amendment that created a commercial monopoly on any consumer product or service. It seems like an abuse of the referendum process. But hey, if the people in Ohio vote it in, that's democracy.
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ISSUE 6
Oct 17, 2008 16:36:11 GMT -5
Post by thegiss on Oct 17, 2008 16:36:11 GMT -5
As a voter, I would be opposed to any constitutional amendment that created a commercial monopoly on any consumer product or service. It seems like an abuse of the referendum process. But hey, if the people in Ohio vote it in, that's democracy. As I posted previously rat, this is the fundamental problem I have. If they said , say, this location and 5 others...or whatever number you are comfortable with, I would be willing to take my chances bidding for a license.
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ISSUE 6
Oct 18, 2008 11:29:06 GMT -5
Post by darkside07 on Oct 18, 2008 11:29:06 GMT -5
That is one of the biggest issues with issue 6, the tens of millions of dollars that a license should cost and be bid for does not exist. The license if free.
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ISSUE 6
Oct 21, 2008 10:03:45 GMT -5
Post by thegiss on Oct 21, 2008 10:03:45 GMT -5
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ISSUE 6
Oct 21, 2008 14:26:00 GMT -5
Post by chris on Oct 21, 2008 14:26:00 GMT -5
Nice article . . . . and all you have to do is read about Lyle Berman and you'll really get the full picture. Crook.
I will continue to pave the roads in Michigan, PA, WV, Canada and Indiana (MGM, Greektown, Motor City, Presque, Mountaineer, Wheeling, Caesar's Windsor, Belterra, etc) with my hard earned money. "Eff" Ohio!
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ISSUE 6
Oct 23, 2008 2:06:57 GMT -5
Post by racefanmike on Oct 23, 2008 2:06:57 GMT -5
Kieth. Read your article, and what comes next is a constitutional amendment to allow slots at the Ohio tracks, for the benefit of Ohioans.
And yes Chris, Lyle Berman has had much success, which qualifies him as a crook. But now now Indiana has slots at there tracks, so does Minnesota, and everywhere else Lyle Berman has had his "crooked" success. Working outside the box...let him use his money and influence to open the door. Thats all I'm saying.
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ISSUE 6
Oct 23, 2008 9:36:35 GMT -5
Post by thegiss on Oct 23, 2008 9:36:35 GMT -5
Kieth. Read your article, and what comes next is a constitutional amendment to allow slots at the Ohio tracks, for the benefit of Ohioans. And yes Chris, Lyle Berman has had much success, which qualifies him as a crook. But now now Indiana has slots at there tracks, so does Minnesota, and everywhere else Lyle Berman has had his "crooked" success. Working outside the box...let him use his money and influence to open the door. Thats all I'm saying. Mike, I hear what you are saying, however, in my opinion, you do not have a good read on the pulse of Ohio politics if you believe that this amendment opens the door to slots at racetracks.
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ISSUE 6
Oct 23, 2008 9:58:35 GMT -5
Post by trackrat on Oct 23, 2008 9:58:35 GMT -5
Posted today at the USTA site, and VERY HARD to believe:
"In Ohio, Clinton County would become the site of a single casino if voters across the state vote to permit amending the state’s constitution.
A poll taken by Survey USA early in September showed that 62 percent of Buckeye voters were in favor, 31 percent opposed it, and that seven percent were undecided....
A Cleveland Plain Dealer editorial board member, Thomas Suddes, wrote an anti-casino column in that newspaper on Oct. 20, in which he termed passage of the casino measure “likely.”
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ISSUE 6
Oct 24, 2008 11:52:25 GMT -5
Post by thegiss on Oct 24, 2008 11:52:25 GMT -5
Posted today at the USTA site, and VERY HARD to believe: "In Ohio, Clinton County would become the site of a single casino if voters across the state vote to permit amending the state’s constitution. A poll taken by Survey USA early in September showed that 62 percent of Buckeye voters were in favor, 31 percent opposed it, and that seven percent were undecided.... A Cleveland Plain Dealer editorial board member, Thomas Suddes, wrote an anti-casino column in that newspaper on Oct. 20, in which he termed passage of the casino measure “likely.” After a complaint from a certain race rack publicist about using outdated polling info, they added a disclaimer paragraph: In recent days, however, anti-casino forces, including church and law enforcement groups, newspaper editorial boards, and even the Ohio Racing Commission, have gotten a great deal of press coverage across the state. Add to that the amount spent in Ohio to defeat the issue by Penn National Gaming, which operates a casino in nearby Lawrenceburg, Ind. and Toledo’s Raceway Park, and polling on the issue is likely to be closer in the final days before the Nov. 4 election.
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ISSUE 6
Oct 25, 2008 6:17:18 GMT -5
Post by chris on Oct 25, 2008 6:17:18 GMT -5
Kieth. Read your article, and what comes next is a constitutional amendment to allow slots at the Ohio tracks, for the benefit of Ohioans. And yes Chris, Lyle Berman has had much success, which qualifies him as a crook. But now now Indiana has slots at there tracks, so does Minnesota, and everywhere else Lyle Berman has had his "crooked" success. Working outside the box...let him use his money and influence to open the door. Thats all I'm saying. I will be voting "yes" on Issue 6 and encouraging others to do so. Win or lose, Ohio Racing is coming is dwindling to the point of being on Life Support. Once Valley View Downs and Casino is built, right outside Youngstown over the border in PA, and the Meadows Casino moves into their permanent facility, that could very well be the icing on the cake. Ohio blew it 7 years ago in terms of voting FOR slots at tracks and unfortunately the economy since 9-11 deeply impacted the situation as well. Anyone know the progress of Valley View? This website has been sitting idle virtually since it was created. www.valleyviewdowns.com/
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