M.J.C. slashes purses/stakes

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I don't think it has anything to do with bible thumpers. I think it has everything to do with politics.

No..there were a number of articles in local newspapers and on local TV about religious groups from all over the nation targeting Maryland to make a stand against the Devil's toys (slots). Gotta make a stand somewhere against folks going astray...today slots, tomorrow, mass murder or worst yet, sex.

[ddthetide]

it's politics and legislators. the big city counties control the votes. they want to pass slots for the 2 races track only. the other counties vote against it because they want thier cuts and jobs. cumberland and frostburg in far western md, could desperately use the jobs. i'm sure the eastern shore could use the jobs too. the only OTB west of the 2 tracks is frederick they want slots. so on one can agree on who gets slots and who doesn't. there is to much "if i don't get them you don't either".

the counties with the big cities, their legislators don't come to western md so they don't grasp the idea that i can be in pa or wv in 10 minutes.
baltimore county should understand, everyone that lives down there goes to delaware on a regular basis. you just can't make the knuckleheads in annapolis understand.

[Zippy Chippy]

Originally Posted by ddthetide

it's politics and legislators. the big city counties control the votes. they want to pass slots for the 2 races track only. the other counties vote against it because they want thier cuts and jobs. cumberland and frostburg in far western md, could desperately use the jobs. i'm sure the eastern shore could use the jobs too. the only OTB west of the 2 tracks is frederick they want slots. so on one can agree on who gets slots and who doesn't. there is to much "if i don't get them you don't either".

Isn't there a way to bypass the legislature by doing a ballot initiative? If the people of Maryland could get a slots proposal on the ballot, wouldn't it take all the "annapolis knuckleheads" out of the equation?

[cmorioles]

Who really cares if Maryland racing crashes and burns? It can only help the industry to eliminate tracks.

[tanner12oz]

the wv table games bill passed sunday....construction has already begun

[ddthetide]

Originally Posted by tanner12oz

the wv table games bill passed sunday....construction has already begun

it failed in jefferson county, thats where CT is. was it passed in the mountaineer area?

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by tanner12oz

the wv table games bill passed sunday....construction has already begun

I believe it failed at Charlestown but passed at Wheeling.

--Dunbar

[byalip]

It's got everything to do with Bible thumping and "family values".

I live in MD. Trust me, the knee-jerk reaction is that slots means gambling makes for sinners in the hands of an angry god. This state is run by soccer moms and dads. Period. They are so freaked out by the notion of slots/gambling that they're willing to forego roughly 50% of the revenue slated for education.

Here's the latest accounting by the Baltimore Sun:
Joined by their highest-ranking advocate, Comptroller Peter Franchot, Stop Slots Maryland advocates gathered at an Annapolis-area church yesterday to resume their push to block gambling. Leaders said they were bankrupt and that supporters had scattered, but that they would turn to religious groups across the state, and even Republican lawmakers, for help.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Dunbar

I believe it failed at Charlestown but passed at Wheeling.
--Dunbar

When Wheeling got slots, it turned their horrible greyhound racing facility into one of the best in the country, with the best quality dogs, best trainers, and biggest slot-engorged purses, and now is A rated all the way. Local economy in Wheeling benefitted greatly from that, and is still doing so today.

[ddthetide]

Originally Posted by Zippy Chippy

Isn't there a way to bypass the legislature by doing a ballot initiative? If the people of Maryland could get a slots proposal on the ballot, wouldn't it take all the "annapolis knuckleheads" out of the equation?

it's just not a big enough issue here until it's gone. no one pays any attention to it until there is some type of vote in annapolis. both tracks are in the baltimore county area and most the big horse farms to the northeast of Baltimore county going towards delaware have been sold off and developed. even carrol county and most of southern md farms are gone. the land is worth just sick amounts of money.
i live 1 minute from the old hagerstown track. it's been turned into a recreation area with softball and soccer fields.