Rendell: Gaming Helping Racing

As the Rendell Administration prepares to leave office, officials are touting casino gambling as a success, when it comes to boosting the Pennsylvania's horse racing industry.
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding says 44-thousand racing jobs have been created, since the industry started getting 12 percent of slots revenue in 2006.
He notes Pennsylvania breeding is up 10 percent during a national downward trend, and says the racing benefits trickle down.

"The veterinary care provided, the fees provided, the buildings. And you get that long-term growth of the equine industry that everybody says they wanted. We're beginning to see the results now."

During last year's debate over legalizing table games, racing officials said they were worried poker and blackjack tables would take money away from slot machines, and hurt racing revenue.
But November and October's slot revenue was up from 2009 figures.
The state made 61 million dollars from gaming last month, compared to 56 million in November 2009.
Governor Ed Rendell says that has dramatically increased the purses commonwealth tracks can offer, which, in turn, has boosted Pennsylvania breeding.

"And now Pennsylvania's starting to get horses like Smarty Jones to stand in stud. The industry, with the jobs it produces, is on the road back."

The Agriculture Department says Pennsylvania breeding saw a 10 percent increase this year, when national figures were down.