USTA DAMAGE CONTROL

[rainman2]

So you think the money would be better spent if sent to a 3rd world nation that the politicians are rich and people are poor would be a better idea than supporting local agriculture and green spaces?

If the USA is not careful, this could very well happen here sooner than people realize!!!

[Bitter Truth]

I had mentioned before [half jokingly] that they better hope Musk doesn't get bored and start
analyzing some of the money pumped into harness racing. As we've seen, if it happens, it comes
abruptly without much, if any warning.

[rainman2]

I had mentioned before [half jokingly] that they better hope Musk doesn't get bored and start
analyzing some of the money pumped into harness racing. As we've seen, if it happens, it comes
abruptly without much, if any warning.

Don’t worry too much about this. The money in harness racing today might not pay his child support for all of his children!   

[Bitter Truth]

He's chopping at a federal level. Don't see it reaching the state level. At least he
has the money to support kids he has. Something that is far from a given in the general public.

[Brown jug]

we have no say
sure trump was elected based on what we/you thought he was going to do
but sometimes!! politicians change their mind once in office
as for roads, bridges and schools they are supposed to already have funding for those from the taxes collected , the fact they piss away money and cant budget properly should not fall on harness racing

i guess the difference is i actually enjoy the sport and am part of it , is it perfect ? of course not
for all the bashers on here if you are involved in the sport( doubtful for most  ) than just get out and move on , you are perfectly free to do that rather than complain
thanks

[Papillon]

I had mentioned before [half jokingly] that they better hope Musk doesn't get bored and start
analyzing some of the money pumped into harness racing. As we've seen, if it happens, it comes
abruptly without much, if any warning.

it is the states decision to hand out slot welfare-not the feds

[Grandstand Handicapper]

A USTA thread/topic turns into a political discussion. Well, wonders never cease. That said, Musk is somewhat "unpredictable" so don't be so quick to think he's going to do away with subsidies blindly. Remember, Tesla, and other Musk companies receive a wide variety of government subsidies, grants, tax credits, and more.

[Kenny]

So you think the money would be better spent if sent to a 3rd world nation that the politicians are rich and people are poor would be a better idea than supporting local agriculture and green spaces?

The VOTERS. What percentage of the population cares if harness racing even exists?  What percentage of those people support giving BILLIONS to racing?  Compare that to the people who care about roads, bridges, and schools. Harness racing turned its back on the customers and the customer left.

[Kenny]

I had mentioned before [half jokingly] that they better hope Musk doesn't get bored and start
analyzing some of the money pumped into harness racing. As we've seen, if it happens, it comes
abruptly without much, if any warning.

The harness racing handouts are not federal dollars. However, as the funding of state programs is reduced or eliminated, the states will be looking for funds.  PA has already been down that path several times.  That was block by republicans from rural areas. That will change when the alternative is tax increases. Will the industry ever wake up?

[Kenny]

He's chopping at a federal level. Don't see it reaching the state level. At least he
has the money to support kids he has. Something that is far from a given in the general public.

As the funding of state programs is reduced or eliminated, the states will be looking for funds.

[Kenny]

we have no say
sure trump was elected based on what we/you thought he was going to do
but sometimes!! politicians change their mind once in office
as for roads, bridges and schools they are supposed to already have funding for those from the taxes collected , the fact they piss away money and cant budget properly should not fall on harness racing

i guess the difference is i actually enjoy the sport and am part of it , is it perfect ? of course not
for all the bashers on here if you are involved in the sport( doubtful for most  ) than just get out and move on , you are perfectly free to do that rather than complain
thanks

I have been a fan for many deacdes. I have watched the industry take the handouts and turn its back on the fans. If that does not change, the future is bleak.

[Kenny]

it is the states decision to hand out slot welfare-not the feds

What decision will the states make when their federal funding is reduced or eliminated? Do you have any idea how much of state and local dollars are actually passthrough funds from the federal government?

[Papillon]

What decision will the states make when their federal funding is reduced or eliminated? Do you have any idea how much of state and local dollars are actually passthrough funds from the federal government?

eventually the states will stop handing out the welfare

its just a matter of time before they realize how dumb they have been--which may take awhile

[Kenny]

eventually the states will stop handing out the welfare

its just a matter of time before they realize how dumb they have been--which may take awhile

The Philadelphia newspaper has written several highly critical articles about this. There is going to be large demands on state funds as federal funding is reduced. 

[Grandstand Handicapper]

Not that I want to feed into the political aspects of this, because I don't think there are any, however, I will speak to the economic aspects. Other than nobody being at all familiar with governmental accounting, and the equivalent of one-time write-downs and charge-offs of certain debt.....I think there will be a decisive and continual trend of increases and numbers which will result in more negative cash flows to states. The Fed, under both parties, will send less money to states. Less Fed funding. States will be forced into dealing with it. When a state goes out of business, they don't cease to exist.

Since most people believe that the states are simply "giving out money" to the racetracks, that won't stop. It will just be "different" money. Less, but different. Regardless, racetracks do and will be forced into becoming self-sufficient. And they will. That is just one reason why they will be very different in the future. They will still benefit from alternative revenue sources. Perhaps one day decoupling will be a national norm/law. That may rid the sport of casino ownership. But eventually racetracks will have alternative sources of gambling/wagering/betting, and the casino companies will still want that. And guess what...they will pay for it!!!

Oh, and bring this back to the USTA topic...the USTA will have nothing to do with this! They can't. They are incapable!