As lawmakers appeared to soften their position on gambling, hundreds of horse enthusiasts rallied at the Statehouse this morning for a plan that would allow slot machines at the state's seven racetracks.

Without slot machines, most of the racetracks likely will go out of business in the next few years, eliminating many of Ohio's 16,000 jobs that depend on horse racing, leaders of the state's equine industry said.

They urged supporters to write to lawmakers in favor of a proposal to allow 14,000 slot machines at the racetracks. The issue would require only approval from the General Assembly, not voters.

"This is not about gambling," said state Rep. Terry Blair, R-Washington Township. "You can read the newspaper about gambling. Every shallow-minded newspaper person thinks this is about gambling. It's about 16,000 jobs."

The slots-at-racetracks proposal is one of three to expand gambling in Ohio. Backers of a plan to allow casinos in Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati are circulating a petition for a November ballot measure. A group of restaurants and bars is hoping to persuade Gov. Ted Strickland to authorize slot machines at their businesses as part of the Ohio Lottery.

A spokeswoman for Strickland said today that the governor still opposes expanding gambling.

But a longtime gambling opponent, Senate President Bill M. Harris, today signaled flexibility on the issue.

Harris, R-Ashland, said today that while he doesn't want a gambling proposal placed into the state budget, he is more receptive to giving Ohioans the opportunity to approve a plan.

"If we had an initiative for the legislature to put on the ballot where voters could vote on it, I would support that," he said.