A new study by the Univ. of MD Center for Applied
Policy Studies "estimates that the economic impact of horse
racing and breeding" in MD is $700M, and that the industry
"accounts for the equivalent" of 10,000 full-time jobs,
according to Tom Keyser of the Baltimore SUN. The state
government hired the university to study the industry "as a
complement" to the state study commission on horse racing.
The new study puts the economic impact of MD's racetracks at
$202M and breeding and training at $369M. Wayne Rhodes of
the Center for Applied Policy Studies "estimated the out-of-
state participation and tourism impact" at $100-125M.
SURVEY BREAKDOWN: Meanwhile, a telephone survey on
horse racing conducted by the Univ. Center showed that of
"randomly selected" MD and DC residents: 24% said football
was their favorite sport, 21% said baseball and 1% said
horse racing (although 4% said that horse racing was among
their four favorite sports); 13% said that they had been to
a horse track within the past year, while 37% had been to an
MLB game, 20% to an NFL game, 18% to a minor-league baseball
game, 16% to a men's college basketball game, 14% to an NBA
game and 14% to a college football game; 43% said they were
somewhat to extremely interested in thoroughbred racing and
24% said they were somewhat to extremely interested in
harness racing; 21% of respondents said that "nicer
facilities and a friendlier atmosphere" would increase their
interest in the sport (Baltimore SUN, 1/17).
NTRA HERE TO STAY: FL-based Weinstein, Jones & Assoc.
became the official insurance provider of the NTRA.
Meanwhile, Nick Nicholson, one of the NTRA's founders, will
return to his post as Exec Dir for The Jockey Club, but will
remain special assistant to NTRA Commissioner Tim Smith
(NTRA). In Miami, Edwin Pope wrote that the NTRA "looks like
not only racing's best chance to survive the onslaughts of
casinos and lotteries and better-organized sports, it looks
like racing's only chance" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/20).
