Utahns should search their hearts and minds as they decide how to vote Nov. 3 on an initiative to legalize pari-mutuel gambling on horse races by county option, film and television actor Wilford Brimley said Thursday.
"I don't really care how this thing turns out. If you want pari-mutuel, vote for it. If you don't want it, vote against pari-mutuel. But . . . damn it, vote with your heart and your head," Brimley said.Speaking to reporters at his B7 Ranch in northern Utah County, Brimley was critical of involvement of The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints, "big" business and Utah Citizens Against Parimutuel Gambling in the campaign against the initiative.
"I'm angry at people who try to exert pressure on the population because they're a big church, a big business or any group that thinks they know all the answers. I don't need a keeper," he said. Brimley was reared in an LDS home but does not practice the faith, he said.
The LDS Church had no comment.
Utah Citizens Against Parimutuel Gambling has attempted to present facts to help voters make an informed choice, said spokesman Rob Rice.
"We've based our campaign from the start on research, facts and independent analysis. We don't think our researched-based campaign merits a critical response from a Hollywood star," Rice said.
Brimley owns and races quarter horses and thoroughbreds, but he runs them in Arizona, California and Wyoming. Even so, Brimley said he spoke out on the issue because he is a longtime friend of Jon Freston of Citizens to Put Utah First, the organization backing the pari-mutuel initiative. Brimley would not say if he had contributed financially to the organization's campaign fund.
Brimley said he believed the initiative was "a loser. I'm going to hope I'm wrong."
Brimley's exchange with reporters was at times confrontational, peppered with expletives that seemingly belie the friendly persona portrayed in his television commercials.
While he stopped short of endorsing the initiative, saying he had not fully studied the issue, Brimley said pari-mutuel wagering would allow larger purses for horse owners, ensure sanctioned racing activities and attract better horses to Utah tracks.
Asked if he believes the legalization of horse-race betting would lead to social and moral ills, Brimley said, "In my experience, they're good people. There's more contracts made by a look in the eye and a handshake than any other business I know of."