09/21/01
 
 *The following is a Letter to the Editor of the Annapolis Capital. You can view the article referenced on this page.
 
 I was proud of professional sports’ noble decision to suspend play after the tragic events of September 11th. However, one "sport" did not follow suit. The September 17th edition of Daily Racing Form asked: “Is the Thoroughbred (horse) racing industry a professional sport like those whose popularity it envies, or a gambling enterprise like any other room full of slot machines? . . . Only Belmont Park and The Meadowlands, both within 25 miles of the carnage at the World Trade Center, were shuttered through the week.” Both had intended to reopen on Saturday, but reversed this decision on Friday.
 
 “The mutuel machines were whirring at four American tracks Wednesday and at 14 on Thursday.” “The game was back in full swing at 26 tracks Friday while the rest of the nation observed a day of prayer and remembrance.” Some track owners and breeders even complained that the tracks were closed on Wednesday!
 
 The article went on to say that “Racing behaved more like the casino industry than like the professional-sports organizations.” So the only two “industries” that didn’t shut down in the days following this national tragedy were racing and casinos!
 
 This is what Senate President Mike Miller andSpeaker of the House Casper Taylor want to bring to Maryland? We don’t need to “study” this issue any longer - spend those tax dollars on something else. Can Delegates Rawlings and Davis hold their heads high and say they would be proud to sponsor legislation to bring slot machines to Maryland? Can we really allow Mr. Rickman to open up a race track in Little Orleans now that we know how greedy his industry is?
 
 We don’t want such heartless organizations in our state! Get out and stay out!
 
 Kimberly S. Roman
 19 Harvard Road
 Glen Burnie, MD 21060-7210
 410-768-1390
 KSRoman@aol.com