Is harness racing thriving?

[Kenny]

1. Ain’t never going to happen.
2/3/4. Approximately 90% of the tax on casino revenue are supposed to be paying for.
5. The vast majority of this small portion that goes to horseman circulates through local economy
6. The one yall always forget. Give more money to casino companies (most of which are owned by overseas interests

It is BILLIONS in PA alone. You are right, the casinos would want to keep it. The bottom line is none of the people involved would vote to give it to the horsemen.

The money circulates in the economy no matter were it goes. Companies which build roads hire people and buy materials. The difference is VOTER uses those roads but could care less about racing.

[Kenny]

You don't think 234 produce jobs?  I bet they produce way more jobs than harness racing. And don't worry about the local feed man. Everyone goes to tractor supply now. Tractor supply will be ok.

You get it. Most horsemen don't.

[Racetime]

It's called harness racing welfare

[Harness racer]

It's called harness racing welfare

Exactly!  Look, I love harness racing...but I have never been able to figure out why they think they are entitled to it forever?  The money could definitely be used better somewhere else.

[Justwatchingtheraces]

I am on a local fairboard in Ohio and cannot seem to get people to understand that it is all a handout. If the purse is higher than the handle, the money is coming from somewhere. We paid out of over 100k in purses but only had $1700 in bets at the fair last year. Not to mention if you look at the 2024 ORC report we were just about the handle in 1952 in 2024. I would bet that in 2025 it is going to be down another 5 to 10 million from last year. Groups like the OHHA have some claim that the economic impact is so high but I think they fail to see how many of these horses raced in Ohio are owned by someone out of state.

[Pacer 2]

With an economic impact for Ohio worth nearly $1.5 billion, the equine industry is a big money maker for the state. Ohio has a horse population of about 306,000, making it the 6th most populous state in the country when it comes to horses. It also has the 6th most horses per square mile of land in the country with that number being over seven. That stat continues to grow at a galloping rate

[Justwatchingtheraces]

Man you must work for the OHHA. So what if I told you the top 1000 earning horses in ohio for half the year were either owned 100% by someone out of state or partially. How does that change that magical bs information. I would say more non race horses live in the state compared to race horses so how much of an impact do race horses have? You are fine with welfare for purses. Then people want section 8 stall rental too. The only people that have an interest in harness racing either own them or train them. The handle speaks for that. Let's not add inflation in from the 1952 number.

[Brown jug]

some of you guys amaze me
at the end of the day who the fuck cares
harness racing isn't hurting anyone, 90% of the people working in it would be on unemployment if not for harness racing
in the  big scheme of things any money allocated to harness racing is a pimple on an elephants ass compared to the billions the usa wastes in so many areas ( which i wont go into )

[Pacer 2]

some of you guys amaze me
at the end of the day who the fuck cares
harness racing isn't hurting anyone, 90% of the people working in it would be on unemployment if not for harness racing
in the  big scheme of things any money allocated to harness racing is a pimple on an elephants ass compared to the billions the usa wastes in so many areas ( which i wont go into )

     

[Kenny]

With an economic impact for Ohio worth nearly $1.5 billion, the equine industry is a big money maker for the state. Ohio has a horse population of about 306,000, making it the 6th most populous state in the country when it comes to horses. It also has the 6th most horses per square mile of land in the country with that number being over seven. That stat continues to grow at a galloping rate

You need to go get a basic economics book. Spend that money on anything else and you get as much or more economic benefit. Money is not created by giving it to horsemen. Spend it on roads and bridges you get just as much or more economic activity. The difference is the general public want the infrastructure while they could care less about racing.

[Kenny]

some of you guys amaze me
at the end of the day who the fuck cares
harness racing isn't hurting anyone, 90% of the people working in it would be on unemployment if not for harness racing
in the  big scheme of things any money allocated to harness racing is a pimple on an elephants ass compared to the billions the usa wastes in so many areas ( which i wont go into )

It is hurting people because those dollars could be going something people actually want. Put it to a referendum and let the tax payer decide. What do you thing the outcome of that vote would be?

[Kenny]

With an economic impact for Ohio worth nearly $1.5 billion, the equine industry is a big money maker for the state. Ohio has a horse population of about 306,000, making it the 6th most populous state in the country when it comes to horses. It also has the 6th most horses per square mile of land in the country with that number being over seven. That stat continues to grow at a galloping rate

The Independent Fiscal Office’s 2017 report estimated that the $225 million given to the industry in 2016 led to $397 million in economic output, or roughly $1.77 for every $1 in subsidies.

However, the money could have had a bigger economic return if it had been spent differently. The IFO noted that every dollar for elementary and secondary education would have brought a $2.08 return. If the state had instead spent the money on highway and street infrastructure upgrades, it would have returned $2.15 for every dollar. For water and sewer infrastructure improvement, $1.83 for every dollar.

[Brown jug]

kenny, you are going around in circles
 i'm getting dizzy

[NOTHING BUT TRUTHS]

some of you guys amaze me
at the end of the day who the fuck cares
harness racing isn't hurting anyone, 90% of the people working in it would be on unemployment if not for harness racing
in the  big scheme of things any money allocated to harness racing is a pimple on an elephants ass compared to the billions the usa wastes in so many areas ( which i wont go into )

If I get paid by my job every week. And it isn't enough to pay my bills. Can I get a handout?  No my house would be foreclosed. My car would get repoed. You have to be self sustaining at some point. Casinos are not going to fund you forever. It's coming.

[NOTHING BUT TRUTHS]

Think about these drivers making hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some can't even read. Grooms can get Jon's at other farms. So the fallout wouldn't be as bad as every horseman thinks.
At some point the the casinos have to ask. Is the juice worth the squeeze. Most of the population probably doesn't think it is.  Put it up for a vote. Maybe we would have less flat tires. Or less kids in classrooms. Just saying  there are way more productive options. Harness racing had their shot. They dropped the ball. Shame on them. It's their own fault. Should of had qualified leaders leading the industry. Not hiring every trainers wife or daughter.