STATE ASSOCIATION NEWS
GEORGIA HORSE RACING COALITION NEWS The Georgia Horse Racing Coalition is off and running to bring the excitement and benefits of horse racing to Georgia. Studies show that the horse racing industry in Georgia could bring as much as $75 million annually in tax revenues and up to 15,000 jobs! Add in the tourism, business opportunities and agriculture growth, and the potential economic impact is nearly $1 billion and as many as 30,000 direct and indirect jobs. Georgia has a long tradition of horse racing, which is legal in the state. Each April, Georgia residents and visitors flock to the Atlanta Steeplechase near Rome and the Hawkinsville Harness Festival in South Georgia. Each event has taken place annually for almost 50 years, and the City of Hawkinsville owns the track and training facility where the harness racing takes place. While Georgia does permit some forms of gaming, i.e. the lottery to raise funds for education, our current laws block pari-mutuel wagering, making the sport of horse racing unprofitable in Georgia. The state is not taking advantage of the tax revenues and employment opportunities that would be created by the horse racing industry and pari-mutuel wagering. Join us as we work with our state leaders to pass legislation that would allow horse racing in Georgia and make a run for the winner’s circle. Please contact your state TRAO Benevolence Changes legislators and help us bring horse racing, jobs and other economic benefits to Georgia. You can find a link to your legislators on our website at gahorseracing.org. About Us The Georgia Horse Racing Coalition is a group of leading business and civic leaders who are dedicated to bringing first-class horse racing to Georgia who see the value that pari-mutuel wagering and the horse racing industry could bring to Georgia through jobs, tax revenue and tourism. Our Mission Our mission is to work with our state leaders to pass legislation allowing pari-mutuel wagering in Georgia in order to encourage and support a statewide horse racing industry that will bring jobs, tax revenues and tourism to our communities. Board of Directors Chairman: Carl Bouckaert, Founder and Owner of Beaulieu Group LLC; Two-Time Olympic Equestrian; MFH of Bear Creek Hounds President: Dean Reeves, Owner of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Breeders’ Cup Classic Winner Mucho Macho
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Southern Racehorse • MARCH/APRIL 2014
Man; CEO of Reeves Contracting VP/Treasurer: Jack Damico, Partner, Matson Driscoll & Damico; The Posse Racing Stable - General Manager/Owner VP/Secretary: Tom Schulte, Senior Vice President, Dominion Benefits Executive Director: Steven Crayne, Founder & Owner of Starting Gate Marketing LLC The Economic Impact of Horse Racing on Georgia An economic impact study by The Public Performance and Management Group at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University reports that legalizing pari-mutuel wagering would produce a broad range of economic benefits for our state. The study shows that horse racing would bring: • Increased State Tax Revenues: A cautious estimate of the impact on state coffers is approximately $50 million annually, which is the amount received by states that allow pari-mutuel wagering such as Kentucky and Louisiana. • A Larger, More Robust Statewide Equine Industry: The equine industry, with its support businesses (feed production, training, farriers, veterinary services, equine products, etc.) would bring jobs to rural areas of the state where unemployment rates are high. • Increased Tourism: Horse racing would enhance Georgia as a destination state, adding yet another activity to our state’s portfolio of tourism attractions. Georgia currently has an equine industry of nearly 180,000 horses, and while horse racing—harness racing and steeplechasing—now exists in Georgia, the state does not take advantage of the tax revenues that pari-mutuel wagering would produce. The study says that such revenues would likely be significant. By allowing pari-mutuel wagering, Georgia would be growing an industry that is already well established. Unlike other sports, such as pro football, baseball or basketball, where taxpayers are expected to underwrite the costs of the arena or stadium, tracks in Georgia would be built by private investors. Horse racing in Georgia would be self-sustaining. Contact Us You can find the Georgia Horse Racing Coalition online at gahorseracing.org, on Facebook at facebook.com/ gahorseracing and on Twitter by following @GAHorseRacing.