Surrounded by family and campaign supporters, Tyler made it clear that he is running for mayor to make this a smarter city. A city that is smart enough to know its strengths and build on them. A city that is smart enough to know it's weaknesses and learn how to make things better. A city that is smart enough to unleash the power and potential of its people.
This campaign, this race, this next administration must be about ideas and entrepreneurship. Through his work in creating one of the largest grass roots movements in Kentucky, he has proven that he has the vision to embrace big ideas and he has proven his passion to pursue that vision. As your next mayor, Tyler will bring his vision and passion to work for you and with you to build a great future for Louisville.
It is time for a new generation of leadership. It's time to unleash the future.
I want to first say that the comments you made about my own personal views were totally wrong. I am not anti-gambling as you would like to feel. I owned and trained thoroughbred race horse for over twenty years. I know the business of horse racing from the breeding, to the sales, to the racing, and finally to the end of racing. Let me say that our prized industry will not be saved by slot money allow. Let me give you some examples of what I think has to be changed to save the industry:
1. The U.S. government changed the tax laws years ago that allowed the owners of racing businesses to claim the losses incurred on their taxes. This must change.
2. The industry has priced itself out of business like the automotive industry did. The price of wages, equipment, etc. have become to high for the same man to keep involved in the business.
3. There is no development in the younger generation for a love of the industry.
4. The jobs available in the industry have been gobbled up by illegal immigrants across America.
5. The few and very few owners of the large horse farms, only make it because of the value of their property. Their property sits in prime locations and banks are eager to lend them money against the property in hopes of failure and therefore the bank will get control of the property.
6. The major racetracks will continue to make money even though they say they don't. Sure a few of the smaller operations will have to merge or face elimination.
7. Slot money is a quick fix. In West Virginia, the racino started and it brought great improvements to all of the horse people in that area. However now the area has seen an influx of new owners and trainers from other states who have come in to claim the increased monies and leave the state's industry in the same trouble as before the slots came.
8 There has to be a compromise in the legislature between Republicans and Democrats before this issue can be settled. As I recall the lottery bill passed by our state in the late 1980's stated the monies earned from the sale of lottery tickets would go to education. If you check now I believe all of the money is diverted to the general fund of the Commonwealth.
These are just a few of the issues facing the horse industry. All of us as Kentuckians owe it to the horse to be sure the game goes on. God gave us this beautiful animal to cherish and not abuse. The horse has a heralded history in the establishment of country. But it has to be done right.
Thanks for letting me answer your comments.
Dr. Robert G. Thrasher
Dr. Thrasher is a graduate of Valley High School (1970) and holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Louisville in Education Leadership and Development. He has recently taught at Troy University in Troy, Alabama. He is currently on a sabbatical from the university. His past accomplishments include coaching the Girls Softball team at Valley High School (2004), the Boys Baseball team (2005), both Men’s and Women’s Basketball at Lindsey Wilson College (1980-1982), along with starting the Baseball Program at Lindsey Wilson College in 1980. He is a member of the Virginia Avenue United Methodist Church located on Stonestreet Road. He devotes countless hours at his church while serving on several committees there. He also is a board member of the Valley High School Alumni Association. You can find him usually at the school on nights of football and basketball games running the official score clock.While impressive, there is nothing here to suggest Thrasher has any political experience whatsoever. Besides his "support" for the Republican National Platform, there is only one policy position listed ... his obsessive, conspicuous hatred for the games of chance. It always strikes me as odd when one hails from and aspires to political office smack dab in the middle of the home of the world's most famous horse race carrying the "anti-gambling" banner. It's like running a temperance movement from inside a brewery.
Dr. Thrasher believes in term limits for all political offices including Metro Council. He also supports the National Republican Party platform. He feels he can make a difference in Southwest Jefferson County in particular, Valley Station.
Currently, Dr. Thrasher is writing a book entitled "After the Lights Went Out", an autobiography of his four years of undergraduate work at the University of Louisville and the school's sports programs. He also is working on several research articles dealing with college student-athlete gambling habits. He has published two of his articles to date, "The Impact of Gender and Varsity Athletic Participation on Gambling Attitudes and Subjective Norms of College Students", Journal of Contemporary Athletics and "The Efficacy of the Theory of Reasoned Action to Explain Gambling Behavior", College Student Affairs Journal. His third article, "The Efficacy of a Modified Theory of Reasoned Action to explain gambling behavior in college students" has been submitted to the Journal of Gambling Studies.
Dr. Thrasher has also presented peer-reviewed presentations at the International Conference of Sport and Entertainment Business at South Carolina University, Sport Management Conference at Florida State University, and the 2006 North American Society for Sport Management in Kansas City, the National Conference on Gambling and Addiction in Las Vegas, and the Troy University Southern Sport Management Conference. He currently has submissions to the 2010 University of North Carolina Scholarly Conference on College Sport and the 2010 National Council on Problem Gambling Conference.
