NY breeders lash out at irresponsible NYC OTB

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by chucklestheclown

I don't believe it. I wouldn't believe it if someone said there were half that many racing-related jobs in Illinois either, especially as the article talks about the employ of New Yorkers so they can't be referring to people who are only there for certain meets. If they are counting every person who moonlights two or three days a week, or people who only work Sundays, then I believe it. But to imply it's tens of thousands of people making an actual living is BS.

Chuck..

Don't forget that this includes staff at horse farms too... And the people who work in the feed stores and all the related businesses that support racing in NY. And don't forget that this also folds in the harness industry too. Do you know how many harness tracks there are in this state?

The economic impact of the horse industry is a real number here. If you want to back out the Saratoga area employees sellers that work at the track the 6 weeks, OK... maybe we'd be better off putting a dollar figure on this instead. But the point is that it's a darn important contribution to the state.

[chucklestheclown]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Chuck..

Don't forget that this includes staff at horse farms too... And the people who work in the feed stores and all the related businesses that support racing in NY. And don't forget that this also folds in the harness industry too. Do you know how many harness tracks there are in this state?

The economic impact of the horse industry is a real number here. If you want to back out the Saratoga area employees sellers that work at the track the 6 weeks, OK... maybe we'd be better off putting a dollar figure on this instead. But the point is that it's a darn important contribution to the state.

It certainly is, I never meant to imply it isn't. When money is being thrown around to keep companies that employ a couple hundred people I have no problem with racing interests getting some too. It is the politicians throwing numbers around that irks me. Yesterday I read the Census Bureau is hiring a MILLION people this spring. Then I read most of the jobs in NY will last 1-3 weeks. These were both on official Census sites and definitely imply two totally different things.