The Time for Indiana Horsemen to Act Is Now

[Tom Linkmeyer]

In My Opinion: The Time for Indiana Horsemen to Act Is Now

It’s becoming increasingly clear that a casino in Indianapolis is going to happen — with or without the support of Indiana horsemen. So why not get on board early and secure our fair share of the pie?
Where are the forward-thinking leaders of the ISA, ITOBA, HBPA, and QHRAI? It’s time to step up, be proactive, and think strategically about the future of Indiana horse racing.

Here are the facts:
The proposed Indianapolis casino is projected to generate $494 million in adjusted gross receipts (AGR).
Yes, the horsemen could lose an estimated $10–$14 million in purses from this development.
But if we negotiate and secure 7% of that AGR, it would mean $34.5 million directly to the horsemen — a net gain of over $20 million dollars.
This isn’t just about one casino. If the horsemen pushed for a flat 5% share of all casino gaming revenue in Indiana, the potential would be enormous. In 2025, statewide AGR for all casinos was $3 billion. Even a modest 3% share would bring in approximately $90 million annually — triple what we’re getting today. And that doesn’t even include revenue from the new downtown casino.
It’s time for the ISA, ITOBA, HBPA, and QHRAI to look forward, not backward. The future of Indiana horse racing depends on vision, bold negotiation, and unity. Let’s not wait until it’s too late — let’s lead the charge.

[Justwatchingtheraces]

What you’re really saying is that nobody wants to bet on harness racing. I’m sure Indiana is no different from other states where the handle is far less than the purse money being paid out. So now you want to go ask for a handout?

If harness racing can’t sustain itself, why should it be propped up with subsidies? Calling it a “fair share” from another industry is like asking for EBT cards to buy grain for your horses. It’s a joke when the purses are inflated but the betting numbers are embarrassing.

[Yonkers1A]

Cant do it Tom, no more welfare

[Trigger]

Cant do it Tom, no more welfare

 

What you’re really saying is that nobody wants to bet on harness racing. I’m sure Indiana is no different from other states where the handle is far less than the purse money being paid out. So now you want to go ask for a handout?

If harness racing can’t sustain itself, why should it be propped up with subsidies? Calling it a “fair share” from another industry is like asking for EBT cards to buy grain for your horses. It’s a joke when the purses are inflated but the betting numbers are embarrassing.

 

The gall...

Drugging and fixing races...

Nothing running reasonably to form...then they're even dipping into the parimutuel pools - they want it all!   

Fuck their banding, go biblical, chop their hands off, then let's see them try that again, because the next thing that would get chopped off they surely won't be able to live without!   

[Trigger]

"Former Deputy Director of the Indiana Racing Commission Tom Linkmeyer, reveals that he was he was sexually harassed by the Executive Director. She boldly texted him a picture of her panties….!!!  Linkemeyer returns as this week's guest on the Harness Racing Alumni Show.  He’s interviewed by our guest host Don Tiger. Tom discusses with Tiger issues of corruption, incompetence and abuse of power at the Indiana Racing Commission. He also states that many violations were not acted on including reported shockwave therapy violations.  Andy Cohen also gives his weekly “Keeping Pace update.” All on this exciting, provocative, pantie-gate broadcast...!!!"

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/harness-racing-alumni-show-don-tom-4-25-24--59652102

Tom, please upload that panty picture.  Thank you! 

[Trigger]

"Tom Linkmeyer, the former Deputy Director of the Indiana Racing Commission, is this week's guest on the Harness Racing Alumni Show. Interviewed by Andy Cohen, he discusses the reasons for his recent departure from the Indiana Racing Commission. His belief is that some of his investigations might have influenced his departure. Linkmeyer reveals in detail, a mysterious hidden ownership case involving Howard Taylor that he was investigating. Tom also discusses his conversation with USTA's T.C. Lane who confirms that an investigation is underway. All on this week's broadcast.

"The Harness Racing Alumni Show reached out to Howard Taylor to respond to Mr. Linkemeyer's allegations. Taylor has not responded. If he does, we will pass it along. We also called T.C. Lane of the USTA, who confirmed that there is an active investigation of Taylor based in part on Mr. Linkmeyer's claims. If we get an update from T.C. we will pass it along to our listeners."

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/harness-racing-alumni-show-tom-4-10-24-final--59420319

[Dingus]

Trigger is like a human search engine.   

[Kenny]

In My Opinion: The Time for Indiana Horsemen to Act Is Now

It’s becoming increasingly clear that a casino in Indianapolis is going to happen — with or without the support of Indiana horsemen. So why not get on board early and secure our fair share of the pie?
Where are the forward-thinking leaders of the ISA, ITOBA, HBPA, and QHRAI? It’s time to step up, be proactive, and think strategically about the future of Indiana horse racing.

Here are the facts:
The proposed Indianapolis casino is projected to generate $494 million in adjusted gross receipts (AGR).
Yes, the horsemen could lose an estimated $10–$14 million in purses from this development.
But if we negotiate and secure 7% of that AGR, it would mean $34.5 million directly to the horsemen — a net gain of over $20 million dollars.
This isn’t just about one casino. If the horsemen pushed for a flat 5% share of all casino gaming revenue in Indiana, the potential would be enormous. In 2025, statewide AGR for all casinos was $3 billion. Even a modest 3% share would bring in approximately $90 million annually — triple what we’re getting today. And that doesn’t even include revenue from the new downtown casino.
It’s time for the ISA, ITOBA, HBPA, and QHRAI to look forward, not backward. The future of Indiana horse racing depends on vision, bold negotiation, and unity. Let’s not wait until it’s too late — let’s lead the charge.

Why should you get anything?  It is not your fair share.  If you own a restaurant and somebody opens another restaurant on your block, they do not have to give you anything. The handouts must end.

[Calhoun]

Trigger spittin' bars

 

[Tom Linkmeyer]

Trigger spittin' bars

 

In my opinion, I would respectfully disagree with the idea that casinos giving horsemen a percentage of AGR (Adjusted Gross Receipts) is some kind of handout.

Why? Because without horse racing, there would have been no legal gambling in Indiana in the first place. It was horse racing that brought gaming to this state. When casinos were first allowed, the deal included horsemen receiving 65 cents from every riverboat admission — a recognition that casinos would inevitably take away from the revenue that horse racing had helped to create.

As more casinos opened across Indiana, the mistake made by the horsemen’s organizations was not securing a share of all casino AGR statewide. Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but hopefully that lesson was learned.

That’s exactly why, if there’s going to be a casino in Indianapolis, the horsemen must get behind it — but only in exchange for a fair share of the AGR or a piece of all gaming in the state, including iGaming.

If Indiana’s horsemen want to survive and thrive, this has to be part of the deal. That's just my opinion. I have no horse, but have many friends that have been in the industry for a long time and would like to see them succeed.

[Trigger]

In my opinion, I would respectfully disagree with the idea that casinos giving horsemen a percentage of AGR (Adjusted Gross Receipts) is some kind of handout.

Why? Because without horse racing, there would have been no legal gambling in Indiana in the first place. It was horse racing that brought gaming to this state. When casinos were first allowed, the deal included horsemen receiving 65 cents from every riverboat admission — a recognition that casinos would inevitably take away from the revenue that horse racing had helped to create.

As more casinos opened across Indiana, the mistake made by the horsemen’s organizations was not securing a share of all casino AGR statewide. Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but hopefully that lesson was learned.

That’s exactly why, if there’s going to be a casino in Indianapolis, the horsemen must get behind it — but only in exchange for a fair share of the AGR or a piece of all gaming in the state, including iGaming.

If Indiana’s horsemen want to survive and thrive, this has to be part of the deal. That's just my opinion. I have no horse, but have many friends that have been in the industry for a long time and would like to see them succeed.

The harness racing lobby was good enough to put a stay of execution on harness racing by only allowing casinos on parimutuel facilities (other than Indian reservations is some states).

But you're a corrupt bunch including your regulatory, one big happy family and don't try to decouple y'all - just the tracks and the casinos.

I as a gambler.

Others here have spoken.

LUCPARK racing his investment clean amongst many of the den of thieves competition.

Not sustainable, and I kind of like Hoosier.  Too bad, I don't particularity have a love for casinos.

Clean up you act while you have a fucking act, because contracts are superfluous as you can be closed down for including and not limited to RICO - Illegally drugged up horses, race tampering, across state lines, corrupt regulatory...

Where's the panty's picture Tom, you want, but you offer nothing in return!

[The Exporter]

This has to be the lamest argument for claiming profit sharing of someone else's business. "
"Why? Because without horse racing, there would have been no legal gambling in Indiana in the first place."
All racinos and slots at tracks was sold by the legislature as a way to help racetracks rebuild their product and compensate for loss of business. It was sold as funding a temporary situation. The tracks said the patrons would go to the slots and the stop by the track for a few races and wager. It never happened.
 And, it never will. So, after 20 years of sharing in the proffits of others it is time to either be a viable business or build a model that is.  To just take the money and greatest efforts you put forth is to keep the juice flowing and find more unearned income.
This is not unique to Hoosier. Most tracks flats and harness do exactly the same.
 Kentucky was smart enough to use the Oaklawn model.

[FLYING LATE]

I think Tom has the right idea. The reason he would be asking for a small percentage from an indianapolis casino is because hoosier park has a full sevice casino located in anderson indiana and that would cut into the patronage

[Dingus]

This has to be the lamest argument for claiming profit sharing of someone else's business. "
"Why? Because without horse racing, there would have been no legal gambling in Indiana in the first place."
All racinos and slots at tracks was sold by the legislature as a way to help racetracks rebuild their product and compensate for loss of business. It was sold as funding a temporary situation. The tracks said the patrons would go to the slots and the stop by the track for a few races and wager. It never happened.
 And, it never will. So, after 20 years of sharing in the proffits of others it is time to either be a viable business or build a model that is.  To just take the money and greatest efforts you put forth is to keep the juice flowing and find more unearned income.
This is not unique to Hoosier. Most tracks flats and harness do exactly the same.
 Kentucky was smart enough to use the Oaklawn model.

I disagree.  Casinos got all that real estate, and that was a mistake.  Highest and best use became more important than the racing.