Piontkowski challenges governor’s stance on racinos

from Harness Tracks of America

Tucson, AZ — In Massachusetts, Gary Piontkowski, the aggressive president and CEO of HTA member Plainridge Racecourse, scored with a major story in the Boston Herald giving racing’s side of the battle for slots in the Bay State.

Piontkowski told the paper, “The governor is absolutely wrong” in his claim there are no jobs with racinos, citing data from 12 states showing an average of 2,419 jobs at 45 racinos, generating an average of $202 million in tax revenue for each state.

The governor, Deval Patrick, has refused to discuss the issue with Piontkowski, sending an e-mail saying, “The governor’s schedule is fully booked for the next few months.”

Editor’s Note: Click here to read the full story in the Boston Herald.

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