Usurper83
10-12-2006, 09:54 AM
Points of interest: They're pushing to legalize betting, but since that won't happen for a very long time, they just wasted a crapload of money. Unless I'm betting, horse racing isn't all that exciting to me. The operation will run in the negatives for a while, and black market betting (though against religious ideals) will be rampant, but the operation won't receive any benefit from that.
And, Animal Rights activists are dumb.
No bets allowed at Israeli horse track
287 words
11 October 2006
12:09
Reuters News
English
(c) 2006 Reuters Limited
NIR YAFFE, Israel, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Want to bet who will win the races in Israel's first official horse-racing stadium? You can't.
Most forms of gambling are illegal in the Jewish state, with Jewish religious law forbidding most types of betting and any activity that may suggest cruel treatment of animals. Only government-sponsored betting and gambling is allowed.
However, this has not stopped Israel from opening its first authorised horse-racing track in a hippodrome seating several thousand people. Spectators will just have to settle for watching the races without trying to make a profit from them.
Arabian horses galloped furiously around the dusty track on Wednesday as the crowds cheered. Equestrian shows and artistic performances were presented throughout the afternoon.
The Israeli government approved the $20 million project in 2004 and then began proceedings to legalise horserace betting. But the finance ministry has yet to approve the proposals.
Under the plan, some of the profits would be used to develop infrastructure in the region.
Anat Mor, the spokeswoman for the Gilboa Municipality, which built the stadium, said tickets would continue to be sold for the recreational shows but that maintaining the track without profits from race betting might lead to financial losses.
"Without betting, the economic profitability is very low," she said. "It will be a problem to run (the track) over time."
Animal rights groups have petitioned the Supreme Court to try to ban the horse races. Several protestors tried to enter the stadium on Wednesday before being led away by police.
ISRAEL-HORSES (PICTURE)|LANGEN|G|RBN|AFA|CSA|LBY|RWSA|RWS|REULB| GNS|RNA|MD|RNP|DNP|PGE|SXNA
Document LBA0000020061011e2ab001me
And, Animal Rights activists are dumb.
No bets allowed at Israeli horse track
287 words
11 October 2006
12:09
Reuters News
English
(c) 2006 Reuters Limited
NIR YAFFE, Israel, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Want to bet who will win the races in Israel's first official horse-racing stadium? You can't.
Most forms of gambling are illegal in the Jewish state, with Jewish religious law forbidding most types of betting and any activity that may suggest cruel treatment of animals. Only government-sponsored betting and gambling is allowed.
However, this has not stopped Israel from opening its first authorised horse-racing track in a hippodrome seating several thousand people. Spectators will just have to settle for watching the races without trying to make a profit from them.
Arabian horses galloped furiously around the dusty track on Wednesday as the crowds cheered. Equestrian shows and artistic performances were presented throughout the afternoon.
The Israeli government approved the $20 million project in 2004 and then began proceedings to legalise horserace betting. But the finance ministry has yet to approve the proposals.
Under the plan, some of the profits would be used to develop infrastructure in the region.
Anat Mor, the spokeswoman for the Gilboa Municipality, which built the stadium, said tickets would continue to be sold for the recreational shows but that maintaining the track without profits from race betting might lead to financial losses.
"Without betting, the economic profitability is very low," she said. "It will be a problem to run (the track) over time."
Animal rights groups have petitioned the Supreme Court to try to ban the horse races. Several protestors tried to enter the stadium on Wednesday before being led away by police.
ISRAEL-HORSES (PICTURE)|LANGEN|G|RBN|AFA|CSA|LBY|RWSA|RWS|REULB| GNS|RNA|MD|RNP|DNP|PGE|SXNA
Document LBA0000020061011e2ab001me