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illegal betting and attract criminals, drug addicts and other undesirables. In the 1970s, both the Virginia State Crime Commission and the United States House Select Committee on Crime studied that concern and concluded that organized crime exerts no significant influence over horse racing.
The Virginia bill requires criminal background checks on prospective employees, and the cooperation between race track owners and their security personnel, the racing commission and law enforcement agencies helps to deter known criminals from involvement in racing ventures.
If criminals are attracted to racetracks, it is probably for the same reason that they attend football games, rock concerts and other public events. They do not single out racetracks —they are likely to be found anywhere there are large numbers of people and money being spent.
Racing will benefit the economy of Virginia, both directly . in terms of jobs at the racetrack and its support services, and indirectly through money spent by visitors. They not only spend money at the track, they also often patronize nearby restaurants, shops and hotels. By one estimate the state could gain $200 million each year in direct and indirect revenues from racing.
Legalizing horse racing will also help to stem a huge economic loss to the state as more of our top breeders send their best horses to other states. Horse breeding is a growing 3 business in those states, while it is presently on the decline in Virginia.
This is purely a matter of money. Breeders can make more money in those states, where purses from racing allow larger fees to be paid for top studs, mares and their offspring.
But it is not just the owners who profit. If those horses i stay in Virginia, they must be cared for, fed and trained. Those are all jobs which would be filled by Virginians instead of people elsewhere. Our farmers, trainers, veterinarians, and many others would all share in the benefits.
If breeding farms in the state are sold because they can’t compete with other states, there is little chance that they will be bought by farmers. Most likely, the large farms will be purchased by developers, thus Sccelerating the pressures on our disappearing farmland.
Horseracing would be an economic benefit to Virginia. That’s why we support the referendum to allow pari-mutuel racing in the Commonwealth. -
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