In compliance with a previously issued memorandum of understanding despite Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority compliance, Lone Star Park Texas Racing Commission CEO Amy Cook has been denied approval to export racing signals out of state as of July 1, confirmed June 15.
HISA is expected to go into effect early next month, although enforcement of the drug rules and enforcement will be delayed pending approval or disapproval of the following rules by the Federal Trade Commission. a public comment period.
The Lone Star Park Thoroughbred season ends on July 17.
TRC has previously indicated that this action was based on the committee’s perception of a conflict between the requirements and mandates of HISA, the Federal Horseracing Act of 1978, the Texas Racing Act, and the Racing Rules. Texas.
Cook said Lone Star and the team of riders in Texas support the decision, although the track is sure to take a sizable loss in handling in the final weeks of the meeting. Out-of-state Lone Star bets cover the majority of the track’s overall betting, however, like other lines, Lone Star retains a smaller percentage of revenue from each out-of-state bet than out-of-state bets. The same is done on the track.
Side bets and advance bets are not allowed in Texas. Allows auctions between tracks in the state.
“The impact is Lone Star Park loss of revenue, Texas Horsemen’s Partnership loss of revenue, the state of Texas loss of revenue — I told the state curator — and the Texas Racing Commission is affected because in part (handling) ) sponsor our agency,” Cook said. “So we all lose some money, but we all gain certainty, and you can’t put a price on that’s where we are.”
Cook says signal input for tracking simulation will be maintained
Cook said groups in the state met earlier this month after an HISA representative visited Texas, saying, “Everybody is scared and a sense of uncertainty is visible.” She questioned HISA’s readiness for federal oversight for a couple of weeks, suggesting the rollout be delayed until January 1, 2024.
“I think if they walk out the starting gate on July 1 and they can’t do it, then they’ll never recover,” Cook said. “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.”
The Texas Commission claims its state law requires it to be involved in regulating all aspects of racing and betting at Texas racetracks.
“HISA has negotiated in good faith with the Texas Racing Commission and has made every effort to reach a resolution with the committee to help racing flourish in Texas,” reads a statement from HISA. “We hope that we will still find a way to work together and chart a positive path for the Texas race, so that the participants of the race in Texas are not deprived of the benefit of betting between states into the races in Texas.”
Separate constitutional challenges to HISA, supported by TRC, filed in federal courts in Texas and Kentucky were denied in late March and early June. Both decisions are being appealed.
Cook said about a year and a half would be needed to revise Texas’ rules to allow for updating its rules and incorporating them with HISA.
“We’re going to rewrite the racing rules in Texas,” she said. “We don’t even have in the racing rules a chapter on safety and health, which I’m frustrated with. So we’re going to take some good ideas from HISA and do or pass the standards. that standard.”
