You are on the money Stu. On the American point, I am reminded of what Ray Chaplin emailed me recently

"The USA are facing this problem and the tracks without slots income are losing money (including the Meadowlands)
Yonkers for instance has average field sizes of around 7.5 and low wagering revenues despite easily the highest
regular meet purses but has massive income from the slots - their casino licence like the other USA racino’s is granted
subject to the facility conducting racing – hence to most harness racing is a necessary pain and they do little
if anything to promote or grow the sport"