I first watched the races at Pimlico from Jay Slater’s roof on Rogers Avenue.
Jay was in my elementary school class, and he lived at the top of the stretch.
When we crossed the street to make our first bets, I didn’t shave that day so that I could pass for 18.
Now I serve on the committee which has jurisdiction over the Governor’s bill to provide an operating budget subsidy to the racing industry for three years.
That means I saw his staff’s proposed amendments to the legislation.
I made two suggestions, and both were accepted.
1. Require the industry to develop a long-term plan to revive racing; and
2. Have that plan and other required reports submitted in December, instead of February, so that the legislature will have time to evaluate them while we’re in session.
The bill would also create an Oversight Commission on Racing. Three of its members would be delegates, appointed by the Speaker.
I hope there’s room for a delegate who represents the Pimlico area and knows how to read the Daily Racing Form cleanshaven.
March 26
Why won’t they just let the racing industry die out? It is the “sport of kings” supported by the peasantry. People own these million dollar horses, take them to a track surrounded by Section 8 housing, and expect other people to make them money.
Year after year our legislators have sunk money into an industry that the people have shown they cannot and will not support. Let the blue bloods take their ponies and go play in some one else’s back yard.