Florida Slots???

[so.cal.fan]

Anyone know what happened???????

[sq764]

A friend of mine in Fla said that the vote is about half in and said in Broward, its roughly 60% - 40% FOR

In Dade: almost dead even

[sq764]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/11084826.htm

Wins in Broward, Loses in Dade

[so.cal.fan]

Thanks, Sq764

Just read this one as well.....http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-38tuesdayvote,0,141921.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

[TrackManSam]

So which tracks get and which tracks dont? I am not familiar with Florida geography. Did Hollywood greyhound get?

TrackManSam
www.ventyourfrustration.com (http://www.ventyourfrustration.com)

[CryingForTheHorses]

Geeze sad day for us Calder people!.I dont know why they hate the slots so much in Dade County!! Calder is the heart of South Florida racing most of the year when Gulfstream isnt racing. I feel for the horseman!Im also wondering if CDI will now sell Calder to rid themselves of this burden.

[linrom1]

Geeze sad day for us Calder people!.I dont know why they hate the slots so much in Dade County!! Calder is the heart of South Florida racing most of the year when Gulfstream isnt racing. I feel for the horseman!Im also wondering if CDI will now sell Calder to rid themselves of this burden.


Miami-Dade has more socially conservative voters than liberal Broward. However, the big difference is that Calder is located in a residential area, and Gulfstream is not. Who would want to live next to a Casino? Unfortunately Mullins is right, horseplayers are idiots. That is why they were the most targeted group by the slot proponents. The passage of this slot amendment means the end of horse racing in South Florida.

[cj]

Isn't it expected that the Governor will veto slots anyway?

[linrom1]

Don't think you can veto an amendment already approved by the voters. You could try to repeal it though.

The state legislature will now have to decide the details of who gets what, when and how. My guess is that horse racing gets 0.000001%.

[sq764]

Isn't it expected that the Governor will veto slots anyway?
Not sure that can happen..

The wheels were already in motion here..

Now the next state will be your home turf.. I hear they are very close to getting it done..

(Imagine Rosecroft racing for $25,000 purses!!)

[IRISHLADSTABLE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Plans to permit Las Vegas-style slot machines at four pari-mutuel facilities were approved Tuesday by voters in Broward County, Florida but a similar proposal appeared headed for defeat in Miami-Dade County. With 805 of 810 Broward precincts reporting, 96,201 votes, or 56%, were cast in support of the plan, compared with 75,669 votes, or 44%, against the measure. Early results were considerably different in Miami-Dade, where with 745 of 749 precincts counted, 79,611 votes, or 52%, were against the measure, compared with 73,127 votes, or 48%, supporting the plan. Supporters said the plan could create thousands of jobs and pump millions of dollars annually into schools statewide. ``We're gratified to see that the voters have spoken in the way that we thought they would,'' said Gulfstream Park president Scott Savin, whose facility is one of the four in Broward now in line to receive the slot machines. Each county voted on a separate referendum; passage in one county was not contingent upon the results of the other. And it was not surprising that the vote was closer in Miami-Dade, considering the support in a November statewide referendum to put this measure before voters
__________________
HORSE SENSE IS WHAT A HORSE

[so.cal.fan]

This is the same thing we were told here in California several years ago when they voted in the State Lottery........what happened?
NOTHING GOOD.......our schools never got any benefit from the lottery.
This is not good for racing in the long haul.........not good at all.

[ElKabong]

assuming all t's are crossed and i's are dotted for Broward county to install slots at GP,

-what are the chances GP asks for more dates now?

-what are the chances Calder shortens it's meet?

-what are the chances Calder (CDI) soon decides to build a new track along the lines of (the new) Evangeline Downs in Broward county to capitalize on the slots approval there?

-will the laws mandate GP runs so many race dates in order to continue to offer slots (such as Louisiana's rules demand to keep it's license)

[rrbauer]

Geeze sad day for us Calder people!.I dont know why they hate the slots so much in Dade County!! Calder is the heart of South Florida racing most of the year when Gulfstream isnt racing. I feel for the horseman!Im also wondering if CDI will now sell Calder to rid themselves of this burden.

Comment:
Well, maybe leasing the nice new GP facilities (from MEC) and moving the Calder dates to GP will be a solution. This would be especially timely should there be a big fire at Calder; or, some environmental report that would cause racing to cease there.

[BillW]

assuming all t's are crossed and i's are dotted for Broward county to install slots at GP,

-what are the chances GP asks for more dates now?



GP has talked about year round racing, but I doubt that they would do that unless it was a requirement to keep the casino open.

[karlskorner]

What is really eerie is Magna ( Gp ) applying for "middle dates" awhile back, " like they knew this was going to happen ". They have requested 60 days in the fall of the year " to relieve the pressure on CRC ". It could very well happen now with slots going to GP and not to CRC. That portion of GP that lies in Dade County was destined for entertainment and commercial/residential buildings. The new Clubhouse/Grandstand is designed to accept a large portion dedicated to "slots". I am quite sure the legislature will take this into consideration when awarding racing dates.

You have to admit, Frank Stronach has the "midas touch", anybody buying Magna stock ? ? ?

[Suff]

could of it worked out any better? Broward gets slots.. Dade does'nt!!

Gulfstream park... throw a rock and hit Dade county... all of S. Beach.. Miami tourists looking for action... 25 mins up the road to Broward county..

[karlskorner]

WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND. Back in the 20's/30's Broward County had Casinos ( not legal, but sponsered by Al Capone and others ).

Mr. Stronach has a hard row to plow against the Seminoles with their Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood. Right now they have Class II slots, what with this passed Gov. Jeb Bush is going to have to give them Class III slots. An amazing place, 3 hour wait for the poker tables, 2400 slots that people stand in line waiting for someone to get up, a new car given away every weekend, $1000.00 prizes given away everyday after 4 PM. They are taking in millions every day. Each Seminole family receives $35,000.00 per year plus a new car. Millions upon Millions earned each year and not a cent of it is taxable. Florida screwed up years ago when they first voted down gambling.

[TOOZ]

CTF is available on the track abreviation list for Calder Training Facility.

[CryingForTheHorses]

What is really eerie is Magna ( Gp ) applying for "middle dates" awhile back, " like they knew this was going to happen ". They have requested 60 days in the fall of the year " to relieve the pressure on CRC ". It could very well happen now with slots going to GP and not to CRC. That portion of GP that lies in Dade County was destined for entertainment and commercial/residential buildings. The new Clubhouse/Grandstand is designed to accept a large portion dedicated to "slots". I am quite sure the legislature will take this into consideration when awarding racing dates.

You have to admit, Frank Stronach has the "midas touch", anybody buying Magna stock ? ? ?

Horseman at Calder hanging their heads this morn!.It just got a lot harder for me as a small owner to get "my' own stall.When the slots come, Im sure the little owner will be pushed further up the turnpike.A small guy doesnt have a chance in this game. Just like a small trainer!! Wonder if McSchell_Racings last 20 starts will help me..20-8-4-2

[TrackManSam]

People don't put up any kind of fight when the indians move in with their casinos and pay no taxes, but when you finally have the chance to legalize slots and get tax dollars, people vote no. I am really confused by the voters logic here.


TrackManSam
www.ventyourfrustration.com (http://www.ventyourfrustration.com)

[karlskorner]

Our Gov. Jeb Bush knew he didn't have a chance in Broward County, because the Teachers Assoc. were all for it, so he spent 2/3 days over the weekend at just about every Catholic Church and religious group in Dade County spewing the evils of "slots". It ain't over yet till the Fat Lady sings, it'a got to get past the legislators, who are now sorry now that CRC didn't get "slots", because they are an 8 month meet, while GP is a 4 month meet, to make up the difference they just may "tax" GP right out of the business.

[PaceAdvantage]

MEC stock was down 4.25% today....weird....

I guess it's a "sell the news" kind of day....

[karlskorner]

On the chart I watch, the Dow hit it's highest at 10 AM and then it was a bumpy ride all the way to the bottom of the chart. Must have been that kind of day.

Go to the mattress, unwrap those bills and buy.

[Suff]

It's competitor.. Churchill downs Inc... took a worse beating ....... Down $5.00+ , -12% , on the bad news for Calder.

On a related subject.. Stronach courts Whitney for help in NY. From yesterdays Lexington/Herald

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/11078105.htm



But he does not want to win big-money races nearly as badly as he wants to gain control of the last essential pieces of his planned empire: New York's three racetracks -- Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga, where Whitney reigns over the summer social whirl.

Stronach, who owns or operates 11 tracks nationwide, is a rags-to-riches auto-parts magnate who has made a ruckus ever since he arrived on the American racing scene, waging warfare on an old guard that he insists has run the business into the ground. He is determined to add video slot machines and other forms of gambling to racetracks, along with musical entertainment, dancers and anything else that might broaden the sport's appeal -- tactics that are viewed with distaste by many people in Whitney's social circle.

So Stronach has been courting Whitney as a potential ally, and their evolving relationship is likely to play an important role in determining the future of New York's beleaguered tracks. It will surely influence, as well, the competition among several major racing organizations and casino companies that have been vying for control of tracks across the country

[PaceAdvantage]

Anyone else find it hard to swallow when Stronach starts criticizing NYRA for losing $20 million? Hey Frank, have you checked your income statement lately?

[garyoz]

Zacks issued a sell recommendation on Magna Entertainment today (3/10). Could explain the weakness in the stock. As you know, sell recommendations are very rare. Don't think that Zacks carries much clout, but any sell recommendations get attention.

The Zacks press release popped up on my stock watch list from my brokerage account.