Afternoon Notes

- A few weeks back, I wrote about the change in business for Bonita Farm. Today John Scheinman has a more detailed article about the changes being made to switch from a horse farm to a different agri-business.

- This story "New Lottery game another blow to state's horse racing industry" has been bouncing around Maryland for a few days now. If you don't feel like reading the whole thing:

Recently, the Maryland State Lottery introduced "Racetrax," a new video game at some 1,500 restaurants, bars, convenience stores and other easy-to-find places, where gamers can bet on computer-animated horse races. The Maryland State Lottery's Web site claims Racetrax "offers the thrill of being at the track with the payout and prizes similar to live horse betting."

Are you crazy? This is Keno with a horse racing twist. Computer animated horses race around a computer animated track, and the animation does not even try to make it look life-like. Anyone who thinks this Keno game will take real horse players or even casual horse players away from the track is nuts! N-V-T-S Nuts!


- Over the last week the idea of bringing slot machines to Maryland has sparked debate throughout the state. I listen to talk radio all day. Both the sports talk and news talk stations are yapping it up about slots every day. After hearing this debated on the local airwaves for over a week, I may have changed my mind about slot machines at our tracks. The people that would benefit most from the economic impact of slot palaces are the people who are fighting against them. One community leader from the Pimlico area said that slot machines at Pimlico would destroy the neighborhood. I am going on the assumption that this guy is blind, and does not actually live in the Pimlico area. Last I checked, rock bottom is about as low as you can go.