Set the easily-swayed straight about Racing

[Kasept]

Posted this in the 'Frustration' thread, but thought to use it as a threadstarter as well given that some of us are being confronted by friends, etc., who don't understand what goes on in racing and are being duped.

They might understand it more if we were led by industry officials presenting a unified voice in response to the inane critiques, and were on the proactive offensive here. As usual, they aren't.

A few numbers from the 1996/2005 economic impact studies of the American Horse Council:

$112 Billion -- Racing's overall contribution to the GDP

$25 Billion -- Racing's Direct Value of Goods & Services

$1.9 Billion -- Taxes/Fees generated for Federal, State & Local Govt's.

1.4 Million -- Employed full time by Racing and Racing-related industries

And we have to listen on TV and radio as ignorant buffoons are allowed to relate Thoroughbred Racing to dog and cock fighting?

This is a huge industry. It is the progenerator of ALL GAMING IN THIS COUNTRY as well.. Stand up for it because the permissiveness being allowed to run rampant and roughshod over the game right now is outrageous.