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♦ » MRA Shows Where Racing Dollars Go Breaks Down Amount That Is Returned to Public, Taken By State, Retained by Track DETROIT, Mich., May 15.— The Michigan Racing Association, operators of Detroit Race Course at Livonia, Mich., are distributing quite an interesting pamphlet, "Where RACING DOLLARS Go." The issu- j ance of the pamphlet was appropriately 1 timed to dovetail with the tracks 1953 ] meeting, May 28-August 1, which will fea- ture the 0,000 Michigan Mile and five j other stakes. Salient among the facts found in the leaf- , let is that 87.68 per cent of each wagered , dollar is returned to holders of winning tickets. The distribution of the remaining 12.32 per cent is split between the State of . Michigan and the Association, the state receiving 5.66 per cent, the track retaining 6.66 as its share of the "take." During the 56 -day MRA meeting last , season, patrons wagered 9,300,145. In accordance with the law, 4,458,855 was re- ; turned to holders of winning tickets. From ; that gross handle, ,224,144 was paid the | State of Michigan in pari-mutuel taxes, , while ,617,146 went to the Association. Of the ,617,146 that went to the Asso- i ciation, ,571,693 was disbursed as follows: Purses to horse owners, ,129,879; wages to approximately 600 employes, 21,851; ; property, franchise, social security, sales, ; use, payroll, vehicle and similar taxes, 01,253; rental of equipment, such as ; totalisator, photo finish camera, starting : gate, etc., 82,477; insurance premiums, 7,658; printing of programs, tickets, etc., 5,867; advertising, 0,515; depreciation and amortization, 90,791; miscellaneous expenses such as power, light, heat, maintenance and repairs, 2,747; charitable donations, 7,255, and to the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau, 1,400. Other Revenue Received Revenue from admissions and concessions provided additional funds. After payment of federal income taxes, a profit of approximately 7 per cent was left on the investments of the approximate 260 stockholders from which the cost of plant improvements and additions, dividends and other proper corporate neds now are being met. More than 50 per cent of the horsemen at the Detroit Race Course, representing an original investment of ,750,000, are residents of Michigan. Proceeds received in purses are spent primarily in the Detroit area for wages, feeds, living expenses and supplies. Last year, the increased popularity of racing in Michigan put ,256,037 into the states coffers. That figure represented the revenue from all racing associations in the state, of course. Naturally, racings growth has enabled the state to levy higher racing taxes. Pari-mutuel taxes are paid into the states general fund and are used for schools, colleges, buildings and other general purposes. As an example how the State of Michigan participated in an ever-increasing degree since the sport was legalized, during the fiscal year of 1934 a sum of 5,740 went to the state, while in 1951 the total skyrocketed to ,652,051 and then came 1952s record ,256,037. More startling is the fact that, in 18 years, Michigan tax revenue has increased 114 times in amount.
