WHOOOA Horse Park

We at "Gambling with the Good Life" are very concerned by the recent proposal presented on Sept. 17th to the Lancaster County Board outlining the massive plan to expand the Lincoln race track at a cost of $50M.

Please contact the Lancaster Board and urge them to vote “NO” !

The proposal on the whole looks very positive for the community but we need to have some very important questions answered before we proceed to contribute tax payer’s money to this venture

First of all who is behind this planned expansion?

One of the first contributors to the project as announced by The 2015 Vision group was $50,000 in funding from the horsemen's association. This is the very group that currently has backed LR6 which would allow thousands of slot machines at Nebraska horse tracks thus turning them all into casinos. Nebraska voters have rejected this idea 3 times on the ballot and yet they continue to pursue their greedy goal of turning our tracks into huge casinos. Is this what they have planned for this venture?

Next, we have to ask how taxpayer’s money to the tune of $50,000 can be "ponied" up for a possible venture that will return little or nothing to the state since the first $10M in gross bets is exempt from tax and from $10M to $73M they pay only 2.5% according to an old Nebraska law (NRS-2-1208.01).

Lastly who is the "private foundation" which they will not name that plans to contribute considerably to the project? Could it be a Las Vegas casino donor looking to get a foothold in Nebraska?

There are several legitimate groups that have been approached to partner in this project. Are they being used to bring casinos to Nebraska and are not even aware of it?

If this project is really as we suspect a giant ruse, then we need to be very wary of contributing to the destruction of our communities. How sad it would be to build this huge facility and then learn that it will now become the largest casino in the state!

There are lots of unanswered questions regarding this project and you need to have them all answered to your satisfaction before any money or vote of approval is given.

Please ask them the Lancaster County Board the following questions:

Will you guarantee, in writing, that this park will never attempt to expand gambling in our state?
A good show of faith would be the pulling of LR6 from Legislative consideration.
Will you promise to pay your fair share of taxes as does every other entertainment venue in our state?
Will you be up front and reveal your financial sources?

The proposal to contribute $50,000 from Lincoln taxpayers has been moved out of committee and is now up for a vote by the Lancaster County Board. They will be meeting soon to decide.

Please contact the Board members and share your concern and urge them to vote "NO" !

Their office number is 402-441-7447 or write to them by email and do it ASAP.

Lancaster County Board

Bernie Heier - Chair - commish@lancaster.ne.gov
Ray Stevens - Vice Chair - rstevens@lancaster.ne.gov
Larry Hudkins - commish@lancaster.ne.gov
Deb Schorr - dschorr@lancaster.ne.gov
Bob Workman - workbob@msn.com

Thank you for once again standing up to protect our "Good Life" now and for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Pat Loontjer Exec. Director "Gambling with the Good Life"