Harness racing, a racino and Question 2 — if anyone is looking to tie all these together for the economic good of the community, I offer an example.
I used time off during summers to race at Scarborough Downs. I owned, trained and drove one to three horses most summers. That meant I employed, in a manner of speaking, a grain man, a hay man, a blacksmith, a tack shop, a veterinarian, a groom, and made use of local restaurants, gas stations, motels and bought numerous small items from local people.
That is what is meant by “trickle down” economics at work in the real world.
I could not have spread the “wealth” without harness racing and the public who attended.
Consider what owners of some 1,500 horses would be spending and it becomes obvious why the racino and racing would be a boon for the area.
The nay-sayers are like those who wrote me off when I first started racing. But I became good enough to make money and to “catch drive” for other owners.
I support a “yes” vote on Question 2, to reinvigorate the health of Maine communities.
Joe Madigan, Andover
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