Ron Rosenbaum is new voice of Racino Now efforts

Oct. 28, 2011 - Attorney and radio personality Ron Rosenbaum is now the major spokesman for Canterbury Park’s efforts to somehow get a racino bill through the Legislature.

That role had been colorfully filled by former state Sen. Dick Day, who abruptly left the Senate in January 2010 to lead Racino Now, the major lobbying effort for passing a bill that would allow the state’s two horse-racing tracks to add slot machines.

Day just as abruptly left Racino Now earlier this month, using the old “pursue other opportunities’’ line as the reason for leaving. In this case, the “other opportunities’’ were forming a lobbying outfit, Day & Associates.

“It’s time to take on new issues and new challenges in St. Paul,’’ Day said at the time.

Rosenbaum made it clear that although he will be the spokesman for the group, he will not be a registered lobbyist on the issue at the Capitol. He also said it’s not certain just what role racinos might play if Gov. Mark Dayton calls a special session surrounding a Vikings stadium.

Advocates for racinos have claimed that they could generate $250 million per biennium for the state. They also note that racino would “save’’ the state’s horse-racing industry by allowing Canterbury Park to offer purses large enough to compete with other tracks across the county. Advocate also say that benefits of racinos would be felt across rural Minnesota.

read more: Minnesota Post