george,charlestown would be like the outskirts of bowie or upper marolboro or havre de grace after the halfers closed down.

thanks to racing in jefferson county we enjoy 4% taxes on food and goods,our land value has increased 3 fold,there has been 3 new schools built in the past 4 years,more money for teachers,better teachers comming in,better law enforcement and so on and so forth.

halfmiler wrote:I'd say probably worse. Were you there a few years ago before there was any money there?
George

george,ive been here for 26 years lol ive seen the changes first hand from the time i was old enough to rember things,i rember when the bottom was $1500.
then PNGI bailed CT out,pots got better,video gaming was passed in wva and the post have just kept getting better and better.

Lonestar Park in Grand Prairie, Tx was in Chapter 11 and was just bought by the Chickasaw Tribe yesterday. Racing is nice in Texas, but I can tell you it doesn't fuel the economy here. Barrelracers, Cutters, Rodeo, Ropers, Reiners, Showhorses and lots of trailriders are our fuel. They drive big rigs and pull large trailers and everyweekend and some weekdays you will see herds of trailers parked at arenas all over the state. Lots of money flowing from them. Of course lots of support from clothes to the rigs show people spend alot of money in the horse industry in Texas.

ladyblacksmith wrote:I guess it all depend on where you live and what you do. Here in Idaho the track was closed all summer due to management problems and the county. I'm sure that it has affected some people but it did not even come close to shutting down the economy.

jobs- People can find work if they set their minds to it. They may have to move where there is better work or more money; or they may have to take less than they were making befor ebing downsized. People have been doing it for the whole of our US history. Just because a local economy tanks, does not make it the end of the world. Companies always need truck drivers to deliver stuff. I see ads for paid medical and law enforcement training, too.

livestock raising- Hogs farrow in crates. Said crates are normally 24-30" wide, if I recall, ample room for the sow to lay down and have her pigs, and get back up again. There is an area about 18" wide on each side for the piglets to get away from the sow when she lays down. On the farms I worked on as a kid, and ones I've seen since then, the sows are only in the farrowing crate from about a week before farrowing, to about 2wks after. Then they get moved to a bigger area for them and their piglets. Contrary to what HSUS (amazing how that looks like hussy at first glance) and PETA will try to tell you, they dont spend the whole of their lives in this arrangement.

Most cattle are born in a pasture, raised in a pasture, may get put into a feedlot at weaning, and depending on their final destination, get put back to pasture, or stay in the feedlot. Most feedlots have adequate drainage, some shelter, access to nearly unlimited feed, etc. Basically, the steer/ heifer is as content as they can be- they have food and water. That's about all cattle want.

I dont agree with pressure shoeing, soring, and the like at gaited horse shows- it's inhumane and does no good to anyone involved, except for the pocketbook of the owners who "win." I put such people (owners and the shoers who do it for fear of being fired) in the same class I do lawyers and judges- right below drug dealers and thugs.

I dont think our entire economy is tied to horse racing, or agriculture in general. Less than 5% of the population works in ag &/or related fields. While racing may be the bread and butter of Louisville, Charleston, and a few other cities, it isnt the whole of our economy. $10B is not a lot of money for a state with a population of, what, 15million? That's less than $1000 per person. Banking and medicine contribute a lot more.
I treat most animals better than most people- the animals deserve it.

The fat chick and her boy are probably on the dole- if she worked, she wouldnt have time to make him/her protest.

Dan

Gary Hill wrote:
I meant the whole entire horse industry were to shut down!
They want all of the agriculture to go away; not just racing, dear.

Gary_Miller wrote:
I meant every track across America; including all and anything to do with horses, and all animals included, dear.

ladyblacksmith, "dear" you are preaching to the choir! I have been engaged in the battle with the dimwits for my whole career. They have an agenda believe me, and it isn't good for animal people at all. Remember WE are all on the same team!

Gary Hill wrote:
Gary:

Can you clarify WE and SAME TEAM?

I for one am certainly not on the track racing team. Nor am I on the team that believes Western Pleasure involves some sort of distorted lame gait. Nor am I on the team that believes TWH should wear distorted shoeing packages/soring.

And I am not on the team of the circus folk who use animals in their acts. Sorry and I know that will be offensive to you.

I prefer Cirque Du Soliel (spelling).

I am not a PETA member and find them to be insane. Their agenda is one of no animals for anyone.

I am for responsible, respectful animal ownership. Whether animals for food or pets. Breeding licenses for humans and pets, passing tests to own kids or pets.

The average Ftard who gets to breed, raise and own animals or kids should be shut down.

The bad are going to ruin it for the good. PETA has a voice because of these people and we should all be doing what we can to stop it.

Just my 2 cents!

Humm, I think a guy named Hitler didn't like people breeding either? You know there are good and bad in everything on earth. It is the Fanatics/Zealots ,they ruin it for the rest of us. The "We "of which I speech are not the people that rant, and don't work with or own animals. And if you do alittle homework, these are the type people that want to take away from us that do. There are two sides to this issue, choose a side because as an animal care giver you should be againest these id iots? But if your a follower of the blind, kinda like sheep to slaughter! Gosh thats just like the way the country leadership is trying to take us?

Gary Hill wrote:
Gary I am not blind, nor will I let either side tell me what is right or wrong. Hitler got his idea from the Eugenic's program designed in the good ole US of A - mainly in Vermont. I'm well aware of it and what I'm saying.

I don't agree with what the US did back than and I certainly don't agree with Hitler. What I'm suggesting is respect and common sense. Not extremes on either side.

Off to a meeting, ciao baby

Just hope it ain't a liberal pro obama, AR group? They are all the same.

Gary Hill wrote:
we are both on the same team, dear!!!

So we are agreed? dear.