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Israel Racetrack Opens

Israel`s first racetrack opened this week, drawing thousands of excited spectators but also angry demonstrators including Rabbis who criticized the inaugural race and insisted that it is a national disease, and animal rights activists, who took action and broke onto the field, only to be dragged off by the police. They claim that race horses are mistreated, though some experts assert that the valuable horses are among the best cared for in the world.

Visitors who arrived at the race track noticed a large sign overlooking the track which reminded everyone that horse race gambling is still illegal in Israel, but a ban on gambling does not deter Israelis from placing millions of dollars in bets on Internet gambling sites and illegal casinos in Israeli cities, and it looks like it will be the same at the race track, gamblers always seem to find a way.

Israeli businessmen invested the first $700,000 in the track, and are waiting for gambling to become legal. Investors say it would cost about $14 million to finish the project, which is expected to create about 3,500 jobs.