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Indiana Horsemen Push for VLTs Again

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – As reported by the Kentucky Courier-Journal: "Horsemen laid the groundwork yesterday for another push to gain slot-like gambling machines at Indiana racetracks, making a presentation designed to impress lawmakers with the industry's value to the state.

"However, there was virtually no discussion of the video gambling machines themselves as those who testified spoke mainly about the state of Indiana's horse racing industry during the two-hour presentation to the Interim Study Committee on Agriculture and Small Business Issues.

"But the message from horse breeders, owners, trainers and the businesses they support was clear: Without the revenue from video gambling, Indiana's horse racing industry won't survive.

"…Indiana's modern horse racing industry was essentially born in 1994, with the opening of Hoosier Park in Anderson, a track whose majority owner and operator is Churchill Downs Inc. of Louisville.

"But lawmakers were concerned that casinos — which were set to open the following year — would steal racing customers, so they established a subsidy for the horse industry.

"…Horsemen and track owners say that help should come from video gambling, but they have been unsuccessful for several years in selling lawmakers on the idea…"

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