Voting yes on ‘Q.2’

On Nov. 4 the citizens of Maine will have the opportunity to vote on Question 2, which states, “Do you want to allow slot machines at certain commercial harness racing tracks?” I would like to give you several reasons that a yes vote would be favorable.

Ten percent of the projected gross income will go to the state controller to be credited to the Fund for a Healthy Maine for financial assistance for prescription drugs for adults who are elderly or disabled. The projected income from video slots for prescription drugs is $7.3 million. This would be helpful to the state and those who are qualified to receive these benefits.

Three percent of the projected gross income will go to the Agricultural Fair Support Fund. The projected income from video slots would be $2.26 million. This will substantially increase the premium stipends used to award those that participate in the various activities of the agricultural fairs that includes everything from arts and crafts and animal showing, to horse and oxen pulling and 4H projects. The Facility Improvement Fund will be increased substantially for the physical improvement to the agricultural fairs.

Seven percent of the projected gross income will go to supplement harness racing purses. The projected income from video slots is $5.27 million. There are approximately 200 days of harness racing in Maine so that would increase the purses $26,355 per day. At 10 races per day this would increase the purse by $2,635. For the 2003 harness racing meet at Bangor Raceway the average purse was $1,600 per race and with the increase, the purse would be $4,235 or more than twice the amount of the present purse structure. This would have a great effect on harness racing. There would be more people drawn into the business and the horse population would increase dramatically. The trickle-down effect to the agricultural economy would be very positive.

One percent of the total gross income from the slots will go to the Sire Stakes Fund and this would be increased by $753,000 and enhance the purses for those participating in the program. To qualify for the Maine Sire Stakes the two- and three-year-old colts and fillies must be sired by a stallion standing in the state of Maine.

Two percent of the total gross income or $1.5 million will go to the University of Maine Scholarship Fund. This would be helpful for students that want to further their education. One percent of the gross income will go to the Maine Community College for its scholarship program and this would amount to $730,000 for a good cause.

With the substantial increase in purses for harness racing this will increase the number of horses available both for the overnight events and the Sire Stakes Fund. It will also encourage new breeding farms to spring up and increase the number of stallions standing in the state. The dairy farms of Maine are disappearing to help keep open spaces so new horse farms would go a long way from letting this happen. A good example of this, Bill Varney purchased the 275-acre Mower dairy farm on the Pushaw Road in Bangor and converted it to a horse farm. A study on the economic impact by UMaine projects an annual gross income of $75.3 million and the figures above were arrived at by this projection. I urge you to vote yes on Question 2 for all the reasons stated above.

Doug Clendenning lives in Bangor.