John Winant, desperate to generate tax revenue, let the bill become law without his signature as long as Smith agreed that the state would receive a percentage of the betting handle. In 1934, a year after the park began legally operating, nearly 21 percent of the state's general fund budget appropriations came from pari-mutuel, thoroughbred gambling. By 1946, nearly 47 percent of the general fund's money came from tax revenue generated at The Rock. Because of the park's effect on state economy and employment, Jesep said the book has many political lessons for public policy-makers today, especially for those who have debated the issue of legalized gambling. Where we are today is a direct result of things like Rockingham Park.
History is always relevant to the present.
We draw lessons from it to our lives today. The book, Jesep said, doesn't take a stand on policy issues, but shows practices and results of the park's management. While it discusses how revenue from the park helped fill the state's coffers, it also addresses Smith's political influence and how political candidates made the park an important stop on their campaign trails. Many members of the state Legislature worked at the park or owned stock there, despite a law that prohibited such a conflict of interest. Mike Dagostino, an employee of Rockingham Park since 1945, said revenues from The Rock also helped support its hometown.