Thread: Report: Illegal racetrack workers in Ariz.

Report: Illegal racetrack workers in Ariz.

Published: Dec. 31, 2010 at 7:03 PM


PHOENIX, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A report by an Arizona state ombudsman accuses the Racing Department of selective enforcement of immigration laws and visa rules for racetrack workers.

The investigation began with a complaint from a trainer at Yavapai Downs in Prescott, The Arizona Republic reported Friday. When his horse came in second in a race, the trainer charged the winner should be disqualified because its trainer had an H-2B visa that allows only temporary employment.

A federal law tightening rules for holders of H-2B visas was adopted in 2007. In 2008, Tom Metzen of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association warned Yavapai Downs could close because foreign workers were being forced out.

Ombudsman Patrick Shannahan said the Racing Board has failed to enforce the rules, giving licenses to people who are not eligible because of their immigration status.

Lonny Powell, the racing board's executive director, acknowledged the one trainer had been given a license wrongly but denied there is a widespread problem.

www.upi.com

I think its crap it stems from a horse losing a race. But good riddance to illegals and a business breaking visa rules to "stay in business" heh.

I work at tracks up and down the East Coast... from Canada to Florida. For this guy to say it isn't a wide spread problem is an out and out LIE!

99% of the backstretch workers are illegals. You go into the barns and rarely hear English, a lot of the Trainers are now adequate in Spanish to be understood. It's an open secret!

At some of the "better" tracks there are dorms for the workers, you take your life in your hands if you are anywhere near them. There is a high rate of crime going on. Rapes, stabbings and murder... yet you rarely hear about this because it's illegals against illegals crime. Another dirty little secret of life at the track.

Originally Posted by nomas

I work at tracks up and down the East Coast... from Canada to Florida. For this guy to say it isn't a wide spread problem is an out and out LIE!

99% of the backstretch workers are illegals. You go into the barns and rarely hear English, a lot of the Trainers are now adequate in Spanish to be understood. It's an open secret!

At some of the "better" tracks there are dorms for the workers, you take your life in your hands if you are anywhere near them. There is a high rate of crime going on. Rapes, stabbings and murder... yet you rarely hear about this because it's illegals against illegals crime. Another dirty little secret of life at the track.

well do you work In PA at the Track ? on 315? In PLain

Originally Posted by Syanis

I think its crap it stems from a horse losing a race. But good riddance to illegals and a business breaking visa rules to "stay in business" heh.

I think it's great. A company that obeys the law, sues a company for unfair business practices. Just imagine if other companies did this.

Chipolte just terminated illegal employees, their competitiors should sue, for "unfair business practuces". Unfortunately, most of Chipolte's competition mat use the same type of illegal labor.

My point was simply that the thing was due to losing a race and not simply because its the right thing to do. It brings a level of shame to those who are trying to do the right thing with getting rid of illegals and close the border by someone just looking for vengeance for simply losing a race.

We don't need an excuse to demand laws be enforced. We don't need an excuse to kick illegals out. Just do it already.

Well I see it more like the last gasp of the laid-off citizens in the other thread - who finally threaten to expose their employer when they are so blatantly criminal as to keep illegals on the payroll and dismiss citizens for no just cause.

Many of us have tolerated illegals in our midst despite our hatred of it because we dared not risk our jobs by addressing it. That is the true state of the workforce in the US and has been for many years. Sometimes I even wondered if management had them in our face just so they could stimulate problems so they could have a RIF. Far as I can see ALL government hires illegals because I have seen it in all government positions that could have been covered by AFSCME and formerly were covered by that entity. City, county, state and federal.

And we really think one of our PARTIES is going to do something about it?

And the icing on the cake is the constant hate and hostility of the illegal towards the citizen. Or even the legal Mexican toward anybody else period. I was raised to try to resolve problems in civilized manner. Can't be civilized with savages.

Originally Posted by southBronx

well do you work In PA at the Track ? on 315? In PLain

I don't really understand what you are asking, but I have turned in illegals at Woodbine ( Toronto, Canada) for asking to "borrow" my Indian Status card, so they could make fake ones for themselves.

I was working at Saratoga when a murder occured in the dorms for the backstretch workers. Three weeks later a hotwalker was raped in those same dorms. This all occurredin the short 40 day ( 6 week) meet in Saratoga Springs, NY.

I no longer work at Belmont, even though I dearly love it. Long Island farms are loaded with illegals. I no longer work at Pimlico for the same reasons.

Unless you read racing papers you would never know they constantly break up fake ID rings at one track or another. Most illegals know if they can get here, they can get a job working at the track no questions asked. They already have family working here, so they get brought in and recommended by their family.

Didn't think of it that way Sarum. Yah many workers are afraid of their jobs in these times when jobs are scarse and questioning an employee's illegal hirings likely lead to being fired having an impossible time getting a new one.

Originally Posted by nomas

Originally Posted by southBronx

well do you work In PA at the Track ? on 315? In PLain

I don't really understand what you are asking

Have you ever worked at Pocono Downs in the Wilkes-Barre area?