Stop propping up horse racing

So the state is even behind in paying its subsidies to Arlington Park racetrack (“Arlington Park among those waiting for state to pay bills,” Oct. 17).

It truly will be a tragedy for those employees who will lose their jobs if Arlington Park and other tracks have to close. However, the greater tragedy is that the state continues to pump millions of dollars annually in subsidies to the race tracks and horse breeders.

As I understand it, the money for these subsidies is supposedly coming out of the gambling boat revenue. Wasn’t that earmarked for education? How many teachers’ jobs have been cut because this money has been diverted to ensure the profits of millionaire racehorse owners? The claim that these subsidies save jobs is a myth. They only preserve jobs that can’t be sustained in the free market by taking money, and thus jobs from other more productive and desired sectors of our economy.

Matthew Bliss

Pingree Grove