[soap box]It's pretty clear that horse racing is the "shoe horn" to expand gambling, whether its poker rooms, slots, table games, etc. The only interest in this sport from outside the sport is it's presence and it's legality.
That said, I find it (alternate forms of gambling) hard to believe that it's presence, in and of itself, impacts racing one way or another, save for the bone they contractually throw to the industry.
The problem occurs when the "bone" get renegotiated, after the foothold is present - that's the downfall of racing...until then, it's in everone's interest to promote idiots throwing dollars down the shute, in conjunction with promoting the living hell out of our sport so one day we can stand on our own...Again.[/soap box]
I like the idea of a slots presence at BEL and AQU, along with a public campaign to explain how the handle has been increasing even though few people bother to venture out to the track - would be kinda important along with it
