Subsidies For Maine Horsemen Shrink This Summer

"There's no way to make up the money," he said, pointing to his fixed costs of food, supplements, veterinary care, trainer, driver, stable and transportation costs. Casino funding available for purses through the end of July was down 22.5 percent from the previous year, corresponding to a drop in slot revenue at the Hollywood Casino, according to Henry Jackson, executive director of the Maine Harness Racing Commission. Different contribution formulas for the two casinos, fewer spectators placing bets at tracks, unregulated online gambling and a weak economy are taking a toll, officials say. Mike Graffam, a horse farm owner in Falmouth, said he can't help but be concerned for the industry's long-term outlook when he sees a decline in spectators at tracks. Slot machines at the Bangor casino, which opened in 2005, were supposed to give a boost to harness racing and they've done just that with subsidies currently accounting for 80 percent of purses, officials say. [...] there's been a dramatic change since the opening of Oxford Casino, which cut into Hollywood Casino's revenue but provides far less subsidies to horsemen and race tracks.

 

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