Anti-track essay was misinformed

Tom Swoik’s May 22 essay in the Daily Herald (“Stop bailing out track”) is a misleading and disingenuous piece that seeks to spread misinformation among readers about one of Illinois’ largest employers in the state: the horse racing industry.

Swoik claims horse racing receives $30 million in state subsidies per year. This is simply untrue, and we ask Mr. Swoik to provide evidence to support his claims.

Swoik claims that racinos amount to a state taxpayer subsidy when in truth, they will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in state revenue. That revenue will be set aside for the capital bill and paying down state debt.

Additionally, Swoik would have readers believe that money from racinos would go directly into racetrack owner’s pockets — another outlandish suggestion. A large amount of the money generated from slot machines at tracks would go into purse accounts which are the backbone of the horse racing industry. Purse money is what pays the wages for grooms, trainers, drivers, jockeys, breeders and a host of other racing related jobs.

The casino industry need only look in the mirror to see millions of dollars in profits leaving the state — the money that goes to Caesar’s and Penn National executives is money that does not go back into the Illinois economy.

The horse racing industry employs tens of thousands of people in Illinois. While some of these jobs are seasonal, many of the jobs that Swoik wishes to divorce from horse racing are veterinarians, blacksmiths, grain and hay farmers — people who make their living working directly with working-class horsemen and women.

It is unfortunate that the casino industry has chosen a path of hostility toward horse racing. Non-Illinois owned casino corporations wish only to enrich themselves while completely disregarding the best interest of everyday working Illinoisans.

Anthony Somone

Executive Director, Illinois Harness Horseman’s Association

Hinsdale