Is land value a threat to harness racing?

My great friend Bill Bigler takes pictures every morning from Ft. Lauderdale beach reminding us of what it is like to live in “paradise.”

He took this one just a couple of days ago as Tropical Storm Nicole threatened South Florida with fierce winds in conjunction with high tides.

Part of the pier is missing showing the fragility of our environment…and this was nowhere near the damage of Hurricane Ian, which hit the west coast of Florida in October.

As we age, over the years, some of us look unrecognizably OLDER and WEAKER from our early years.

But, as cities and towns age, when the tragedy of a tropical storm or hurricane…or a tornado…or a ravaging fire swallowing up hundreds of thousands of acres of precious land happens, when things are rebuilt, those cities and towns look unrecognizably YOUNGER and STRONGER as new technology and innovations are used.

That’s a great thing…or is it?

Yes, we are losing land inch-by-inch, foot-by-foot, acre-by-acre from erosion on our shores and inland from catastrophes—both natural and man-made.

As supply shrinks, prices go up!

As far as I know, they aren’t manufacturing land any more so, what’s left, is very precious and escalating in value.

Over the years, we have seen land worth a few thousand dollars an acre eventually worth possibly a million or two an acre with future development plans and promises, along with political assistance and the power of the almighty dollar—make that millions of dollars—greasing the skids.

Might that be troublesome for our grand sport?

It certainly has happened over the last years as evidenced by our racetracks disappearing.

It’s amazing that many of those in top management positions years ago who professed their love and dedication to and for harness racing saw the dollar bills in front of their eyes and, all of a sudden, that love and dedication kind of disappeared, as well.

In Florida in the early 1950’s, the Van Lennep’s bought a couple of parcels of land on both sides of Racetrack Road to build a superior winter training center in Pompano Beach.

It attracted many major racing stables and, 10 years later, they invested another $5 million plus to build a world class pari-mutuel racing facility.

After both Van Lennep’s passed away, the handwriting on the wall began to appear and the parcel of land encompassing the training center was sold for millions, robbing the city and horseman of a magnificent training center—all because the land was deemed to be worth far more for development than training future champions.

It’s a tragedy for fans and horsemen to drive by the site where future champions left their hoof prints years ago and come to the realization that apples and oranges are now being sold on an isle—make that aisle—at Walmart…and, right in back, you can buy a burger or a taco.

When the voting amendment was introduced to allow non-Indian casinos to be built in Broward County, it was with an iron-clad promise that pari-mutuel racing would continue and, with the untiring help of horsemen, the referendum passed.

“Paradise” became “Pair-of-dice” and, eventually, that iron-clad promise turned out to be…worthless.

In fact, the Governor, who professed in a news conference that this State belongs to the voters, completely ignored the voters this time around and signed the de-coupling bill, destroying the lives of at least 10,000 people.

So, the people that brought Pompano Park to the forefront of cities in Florida—the Van Lennep’s—were left at the starting gate…all because of the value of land.

For someone who professed the importance of agriculture in Florida, the Governor certainly didn’t show much importance in this instance.

Even a commissioner said, “the horses have got to go!” (And he was just re-elected).

That development at the old Pompano Park in South Florida is costing billions of dollars.

So, the question is…from where does all this money come?

It comes from the thousands of players who “chase” jackpots.

The non-Indian casinos brag that they pay 90% to 93% on slot machines here in South Florida.

Seems reasonable for a day or night of enjoyment.

If a $100 bill is worth $90 for a few hours of fun, that’s innocent enough, right?

But that’s where the “chase” comes into play.

Theoretically, after the first $100, you’d have $90 left (takes anywhere from 15 minutes to a half hour for most players).

Then, in a perfect “90%” world, your $90 becomes $81…and the $81 becomes $73…and the $73 becomes $66…then $60…then $54…then $49…then $44…then $40,,,then $36…then $33…then $30…and so on…and if you are out of breath reading this sentence, that exactly how you are bled out of your $100…no breath left. And that’s what most players do!

And that’s where they get the money…from the chasers.

In Florida, we have witnessed that promises are worth little when it comes to legislators and some parent companies of casinos.

But make no mistake, as land values rise, casino owners, with the help of legislators enjoying the benefits their campaign cash, will realize the value of their land and take the track and stable acreage and look for ways—any ways—to try and destroy our sport.

You have probably heard he saying, “misery loves company” and the “company” here in South Florida is a handful of miles away as our thoroughbred brothers and sisters at historic Calder Racecourse have seen that famed track, first, cease racing, then see blades of grass sprouting up through their dirt track and, finally, having that acreage—115.7 acres—sold for a reported $291 million.

That sale was by CDI (Churchill Downs, Inc.), an organization that, you would think, had such a tradition in racing that this could never happen.

And, if that wasn’t enough, one of the most famous tracks in thoroughbred racing, Arlington International Racecourse, with its luscious 326 acres of real-estate, was sold by that same CDI group for $197.2 million.

Now that precedence has been firmly established, what’s to stop others from doing the same thing?

Why do I care?

Because there are very few of us that still do…and that number keeps shrinking with every dollar that is put on the table!

by John Berry, for Harnesslink