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Nor has there always been an objection to betting: gambling has been legal since the Revolution. The Continental Army was partly financed by a series of lotteries. and the First Congress wanted to pay off the national debt in that way. In both instances it was the father of our country' who purchased the first ticket. The desire to take a chance and win big was not considered abnormal or evil. Pari-mutuel, by definition, implies that the money wagered is pooled and redistributed.
Commenting on the current status of the P-M racing effort. Executive Director Petty states, "Late last year the VTA hired a successful and highlyrespected Richmond lobbyist to canvass legislators about the possibilities of creating a bill which would legalize P-M racing on a ‘county option’ basis. This sort of bill would allow the thoroughbred industry to pursue P-M racing without making it a state-wide public issue. Unfortunately, the legislators canvassed were not in favor of this idea, and we surmise that their reluctance was based on the current redistricting battle raging in Virginia, and the fact that controversial ideas are unpopulat at re-election times."
According to Petty, should the state referendum route be revisited, a budget of $250500,000 would be required. The economic prognosis for 1982 is decidedly unfavorable to such massive fund-raising.
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