History of Pari-Mutuel Horse Racing in Michigan
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State of Michigan Office of Racing Commissioner 2001 Annual Report Cover : The image on the cover is taken from an original photograph by © Barbara D. Livingston. The Office of Racing Commissioner Racing Commissioner Annette M. Bacola Deputy Commissioners James J. Bowes Steven R. Jenkins Director of Racing Policy Public Information Sara J. Basso Dominic Perrone Assistant Attorney General Systems Administrator Don McGehee Jeff Hayton Special Projects Administrator State Stewards Kenn Christopher Louis Alosso Donald Johnson Ron Campbell Bud Martin Administrative Liaison Steward Tammy Erskine Daniel O'Hare Jeff Dye Thomas Griffin Eric Perttunen Pat Hall Kevin Scheen Executive Assistant Dennis Haskell John Wilson Connie Kowalski State Clocker/Assistant to Stewards Licensing Supervisor Richard Porter Judy Campbell State Veterinarians Instate Licensing Supervisor Dr. Nancy Edwards Dr. Raymond Viele Sherry Benton Dr. William Frank Dr. Peggy Villanueva Dr. Ronda Gowell Dr. Frank Williamson Licensing Staff Dr. Kurt Kiessling Kathy Haven Barbara Smith Dr. William Pals Gladys Hayward Janet Taylor Gwen Marshall Greg Wade Collection Technician Unit Mark Babcock Miguel Pantoja Administrative Support Judith Brown Rose Pileggi Celine Rutkowski Mary Ford Douglas Randall Sharon Caldwell Tracey Freeman Sharon Randall Patrice Gross Melvin Vinson Financial Analyst Reva Kochan Linda Waller Cheryl Janssen Dawn Loos Kyle Waller Andrea Mata Paula Weaver Financial Support Shelly Mershon Leslie Daniels-Yoder Joyce Potter Clare Meshell Investigative Staff Richard Jewell Brian Brown Jung Ja Park Michigan State Police NOTE: As of January 2002 Detective Sergeant Robin Coppens The Office of Racing Commissioner 2001 Annual Report 1 What Horse Racing Means to Michigan Michigan horse racing is a $1.2 billion industry In many of the rural areas of our state, supplying the responsible for the creation of 42,300 jobs, $233 needs of race horses represents much of the local million in personal income, and total economic economy and helps support and preserve the rural output of $439 million each year. The industry character of smaller communities. Farmers grow also generates about $31 million annually in and sell the feed required by our state's race horse state tax revenues, and supports capital facilities population. Grain elevator operations make sure worth an estimated $700 million, according to that feed is available year-round. Barns and train- the most recent study released by Public Sector ing facilities are available to horsemen on a year- Consultants, Inc., of Lansing. round basis, supplying needed employment oppor- tunities for Michigan citizens. There are an estimated 77,000 racing breed equine in the state. Horse racing is a labor- Pari-mutuel horse racing began in Michigan in intensive activity and creates jobs on and off the September, 1933, with 31 days of Thoroughbred tracks for trainers, drivers, jockeys, blacksmiths, racing offered at the Michigan State Fairgrounds grooms, veterinarians, racing officials, pari- track in Detroit. The inaugural season attracted mutuel clerks, guards, admission clerks, con- 101,227 fans who wagered over $3.5 million and cessions workers, and numerous other person- generated $123,783 in state wagering tax. nel. With the addition of full-card simulcasting, Michigan tracks now offer year-round entertain- Today, Michigan has seven licensed pari-mutuel ment opportunities for horse racing fans, mean- race tracks, including five harness racetracks, one ing that seasonal work has turned into full-time Thoroughbred track and one mixed breed track. employment for track employees. The two largest tracks are located in the Detroit metropolitan area, with the other five distributed Michigan’s horse racing industry reaches far around the lower half of the state's lower peninsula. beyond the grandstands of Michigan’s pari- In 2001, the tracks presented a combined 2,205 mutuel tracks. Horse racing provides economic days of live and simulcast pari-mutuel racing. This support to many fairs through purse revenues racing attracted over 1.4 million fans, who wagered for those fairs that offer non-betting horse $374.5 million, generating $11.9 million in state racing. Racing activities also provide direct revenue. Local communities received over $1.7 financial support to Michigan’s 4H programs and million to defray the costs of police and fire protec- premiums (awards) at fairs throughout the state. tion required at all pari-mutuel tracks. Financial incentives were offered to the breeders of the best An important part of the state’s economy, horse Michigan-bred horses. The incentives included racing interests pay local property taxes on the purse supplements and special races for Michigan- tracks, and on breeding and training facilities. bred horses. The tracks also contribute to the economy of the surrounding communities by purchasing goods As demonstrated above, horse racing’s payoff to and services. Michigan is far greater than the dollars seen on the toteboard. Horse racing means jobs; horse racing Indirectly, racing interests provide employment means revenue; horse racing means entertainment; for farmers, transportation workers, restaurant horse racing means investments; and horse racing and hotel personnel employed near the tracks, means stability and continuity for our state’s farm- the media representatives who report on racing, ing communities. and the workers who build and repair the train- ing or track facilities, among others. Their collective contribution to the Michigan economy is substantial. 2 The Office of Racing Commissioner 2001 Annual Report Sampling and Testing for Equine and Humans The Office of Racing Commissioner's (ORC) equine The ORC's veterinarians make sure the horses are and human blood/urine testing programs are impor- sound and capable of racing, and supervise the tant parts of the Commissioner's regulatory func- horse sample collections. ORC veterinarians do not tions. The programs are conducted by the ORC and have equine practices of their own. Additional the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) veterinarians, licensed by the ORC for practice in Equine Drug Testing Laboratory. The program restricted areas at the racetracks, prescribe and involves the post-race collection of urine and/or administer medications to horses who may be at the blood samples from every pari-mutuel horse race tracks but are not scheduled to race. These conducted in Michigan and random/causal human licensed veterinarians have private equine prac- testing for drugs and alcohol. tices. Samples collected by the collection technicians are Equine samples are collected by ORC field staff delivered from the racetracks to the MDA Geagley from the winner of every race, and any other horse Laboratory in East Lansing by couriers employed by designated for testing by officials. The samples are the ORC. Samples are identified only by tag num- then tested by the MDA Equine Drug Testing ber to ensure confidential testing, while maintaining Laboratory to detect any prohibited drugs or foreign a chain of evidence. The ORC keeps a copy of substances present. each sample tag number and the corresponding Any drug or other substance not naturally present in horse information (trainer, horse name, race day, the horse's system may either enhance or hinder its track, etc.). If any samples test positive, the Labora- performance. It is the duty of the Commissioner to tory contacts the ORC for confirmation and possible ensure the wagering public that drugs or other disciplinary action. The cooperative efforts of the foreign substances are not administered to or ORC and MDA Geagley Laboratory staff help ensure present in any race horse, except as authorized by fairness, honesty and the integrity of the horse law. The post-race analysis is an important part of racing industry for the betting public. this process. For more information about the horse racing indus- Dr. Brad Skiba, supervisor of the MDA Equine Drug try in Michigan, visit our website at Testing Laboratory, oversees a team of trained and www.michigan.gov/mda. experienced scientists and technicians who analyze each blood, urine or other sample. Utilizing sophisti- cated testing methods and equipment, this drug detection group represents a valuable link in the Racing Commissioner's investigative chain. A total of 19,533 post-race samples were tested during 2001 (12,732 TCO2; 5,632 urine; 1,119 blood and 50 miscellaneous samples). The total number of positives or instances of permitted medication over the approved level was 78. As part of its regulatory efforts, the ORC employs a team of stewards, detention crew workers, veterinarians, licensed veterinarians, veterinarian technicians and investigators to ensure the integrity of the horse racing industry. Sample collection workers (usually three per track) collect the blood and urine samples from the horses for testing. The Office of Racing Commissioner 2001 Annual Report 3 2001: The Year in Review January Governor John Engler re-appointed Annette M. through the Internet and by telephone, from Michi- Bacola as Michigan Racing Commissioner. Ms. gan residents on horse races conducted across Bacola, of Grosse Pointe Farms, has served as the country. The letters also warn of similar illegal the Michigan Racing Commissioner since Gov- wagering by nonresidents on racing conducted in ernor Engler first appointed her in August 1999. Michigan. Her new term expires December 31, 2004. Jackson Harness Raceway (JHR) and Great February Lakes Downs (GLD)