According to The Louisville Courier-Journal, the future of the horse racing community in Kentucky could be at stake after a recent state Supreme Court ruling on historical horse racing (HHR). The supreme court dealt a blow to the racing industry in September when it ruled that one manufacturer's HHR terminals don't comply with the legal definition of pari-mutuel wagering in the state.
Supporters and opponents of HHR appeared before the General Assembly's Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations to discuss the path forward for HHR.
Racing industry representatives warned that the loss of HHR would seriously cripple Kentucky's Thoroughbred industry. The machines have provided $717 million in direct revenue to the horse industry so far.
Representatives from the Family Foundation, which brought the original suit questioning the legality of the machines, say a constitutional amendment would be required to change the state's definition of pari-mutuel wagering to accommodate HHR. The group opposes the machines, which resemble slot machines but use video of previously-run races to determine winning number combinations.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer disagreed.
“We're not looking for an expansion of gambling here,” Thayer said. “All we're looking to do is to put in statute that historical horse racing meets the definition of pari-mutuel wagering and this body has the authority to do that.”
As of Monday, no bill had been prefiled by a legislator regarding pari-mutuel racing in Kentucky. The next legislative session begins in January.
Read more at courier-journal.com.
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