KY slot legislation

[Rahy85]

As I listen to both sides of the KY slots debate... I find myself hoping that the legislation never passes. My concern is that slots will give boarding farms, stallion managers, and veterinarians a green light to raise their rates even further.

I would think that having the world's best stallions should be enough of a competitive advantage, even over nearby states that have alternative gaming legislation. And as for racing, is it really that important that they have a strong racing industry outside of a couple boutique meets at Churchill and Keeneland?

Any other thoughts or viewpoints?

[AscotStud]

YA, maybe they will start charging even more for shed runs or to run a horse from KEE to a farm 10 minutes away...shipping costs alone are making me not want to stay in KY, they are insane. Race and return to Churchill, River or Indiana is almost the same cost as shipping a horse to our farm in Canada.

[Rahy85]

good point... hadn't even considered the outrageous local vanning costs...

[Tappiano]

Do you mind my asking what the going rates for those are? I'm trying to start budgeting for the season I'm getting next year (mind you we do not even have a mare yet) in Lexington and then figure out where we want the mare to foal. The only thing we know so far is the stud and that we will be breeding to race....

[LB]

It pretty much $100 every time your mare steps on a van. If you want to actually go somewhere, it's more.

[madelyn]

I know, also, that if your mare is booked to a very busy horse at a farm with evening hours, the van charge is often 2.5 times normal, for an evening shed run.

[Rahy85]

Do you guys think VLT's would lead to higher vet/boarding bills?