Racino

Why not? Didn't they subsidize Boxing on St Thomas a few years back? And don't they run Hotels? Oh and they only allow government run Hospitals, private ones can't get a license. Oh yeah and having our own government run power company is part of our heritage.

"...The fact is it is impossible to be profitable at this racetrack without racino legislation..."

Then close the track!

"The breeders are also asking for an appropriation of $8 million to "jump start the breeding and racing industry in the Virgin Islands"....

If $8 million dollars are laying around in the government coffers, reduce the VI government's outstanding WAPA bill.

"...Garret Ritter, vice president of the St. Croix Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association...and Wayne Biggs, chairman St. Croix Horse Racing Commission, want their organizations to get funding from any casino revenues generated at the track...Sen. Michael Thurland and White both expressed support for such legislation. 'We are definitely poised to help you out in getting where we need to go,' Thurland said."

When government officials entertain these sorts of ludicrous wastes of public monies they make the people of the USVI appear ignorant.

Has anyone on this message board ever snorkeled the Dorsch Beach area?

I have picked up so many horse needles from the waters, that is in the water, from the trainers giving injections to their horses. WHAT are they injecting them with? Steroids? How do they get the steroids? Is the use of steroids fair game? Just curious....and not wanting to step on anymore horse needles in the water...

Which is bigger money: having the horse win, or selling the steroids to make the horse win?

Personally I'm against gambling but since it's allowed here already I say let them have it. However I don't see why the gov't should give $8M to subsidize and any taxes collected belong to the people and should not be earmarked to go back into the horse racing syndicate.

The tax revenue may be enough to insure all the public school kids can start the year off with supplies for once...

Maryland also is known fo their ridiculous horse racing subsidies. It's ridiculous but not unprecedented.

Sean

If they want to subsidize anything, it ought to be to set up care for race horses who no longer can race. There are stories of them being left to die or starved to death. It's expensive to keep horses here & if the horse isn't a winner, the owners don't want to pay for their upkeep. Forget helping out the races.

Sad that our governement seems to spend more time about horses than about the condition of our islands schools. Use that money to fix the schools and help the youth of these islands.