Racino Impact is Focus of University Study

A study that examines the impact of racinos on the racing product will be presented Dec. 9 at the second Racing & Gaming Summit in Tucson, Ariz., the day before the University of Arizona Symposium on Racing begins.

The project, carried out by students in the university's Race Track Industry Program, examines racing and breeding data in five jurisdictions that have video lottery terminals or slot machines at tracks: Delaware, Iowa, Louisiana, New Mexico, and West Virginia. The project's primary goal has been to determine whether the quality and quantity of racing has increased in states that have added racetrack gaming, and whether the breeding industry has experienced growth and increased demand.

The reporting period began two years prior to the introduction of gaming in each state and continued through 2002. The report is expected to review trends in the quality and quantity of racing in those five states and in neighboring states.

Some of the racing data incorporated into the report includes race days, number of races, number of runners and unique starters, types of races run, and average field size. Breeding data was examined using the number of foals, stallions, and mares, along with average yearling sales prices, as indicators of the relative health of the racing industry. The Jockey Club and American Quarter Horse Association provided data for the project.

Pre-registrations for the Racing & Gaming Summit are running slightly ahead of last year's pace, when more than 400 attended.