Iowa Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey today issued the following statement on a report released by the Iowa horse industry that details the economic impact of the horse racing industry in Iowa.
The report was prepared by Dr. Richard Thalheimer of Thalheimer Research Associates in Lexington, Kentucky and shows that the horse racing industry in Iowa has a total economic impact of $123 million and was responsible for 2,180 full time equivalent jobs in 2007. Owners, trainers and breeders create expenditures for labor, feed and bedding, veterinarian care, stud fees and registration expenses.
The study was commissioned by the Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, the Iowa Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, the Iowa Quarter Horse Racing Association and the Iowa Harness Horse Association.
Copies of the full report are available on the Iowa Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITBOA) website http://www.iowathoroughbred.com.
Sec. Northey’s comments regarding the report follow here:
“This report clearly shows the powerful economic impact of the horse racing industry here in Iowa. Iowa agriculture is very diverse the horse industry is an important part of that.”
Inspectors with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship are responsible for visiting, inspecting and certifying farms that raise Iowa bred horses and greyhounds that compete at our state’s racetracks and qualify of Iowa Breeders incentives.
There have been 19,140 horses registered in the Department’s Iowa Bred program with a total of 2419 owners since 1990. In 2008 there were 239 horse farms foaling in 82 counties.
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