Debate continues over slot machines in horse tracks

LIMA – Horse racing farms and tracks across Ohio have been struggling to keep business in-state but their fight may be ending soon.

In June Gov. Ted Strickland proposed a plan to allow slot machines into Ohio’s seven horse racing tracks, which is estimated to bring in $1 billion a year for the state.

Jane Morris is the wife of the manager of Steiner Stock Farm in Lima. She does a lot of work helping out at the horse farm. She said gambling at the horse races is the way they make a living.

“We have lost money and hundreds of jobs in the last couple years because people go out of Ohio in order to do their gambling at other horse racing tracks, ” Morris said.States like Pennsylvania, Indiana, and New York allow slot machine gambling.

Morris said while 50 percent of the money made from slot machines would go back to the state, a percentage goes towards the track owners and the upkeep of the horses.”We aren’t asking for a bailout; we want to help give the state money,” Morris said. “The state already collects $450 million a year in license fees.b”Money from gambling also goes directly towards the purses offered to horses. A purse is the pool of money horses compete for. Morris said in states like Pennsylvania a purse is six to eight times larger than in Ohio.b”We’re now going out of Ohio to breed horses because Ohio horses have to race in Ohio and we won’t make any money if we do that,” Morris said.

Sam Zonak, executive director of the Ohio State Horse Racing Commission, said slot machines in horse racing tracks is the only way to save horse racing in Ohio. “Ohio is not on an even-playing field with other states. Ohio used to be No. 1 in U.S. for breeding and racing, now we’re No. 9,” Zonak said. There’s been a lot of debate over whether it’s responsible to install more gambling mechanisms in race tracks.

“Legislators want to protect people from themselves, but big brother is already around enough these days,” Morris said. The office of Senate President Bill Harris is concerned with Strickland’s plan and wants to put it to a public vote. “Ohio voters on four different occasions have put down extended gambling,” said Maggie Ostrowski, spokesperson for Senator Harris.