North Carolina | Horse Racing Free Tips

Bill Legalizing Horse Racing In North Carolina Advances

Tar Heel Downs anyone?

A sports betting bill that also contains language that will legalize racing in North Carolina was passed by the North Carolina State Senate Wednesday and now heads back to the House for a final vote. A similar bill, but one that did not include racing, has already been passed by the House, which will now vote on the amended legislation. The House is expected to vote in favor of the amended bill and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is also believed to be on board.

But even if the bill is signed into law, it appears unlikely that anyone would step forward to open a track in the state. The bill does not include any provisions where a track could partner with a casino or have historical horse racing machines.

“We have a long way to go,” said North Carolina-based owner Hubert Vester Jr. “This bill moves us a step closer but I would have some concerns about the economic impact and the viability of actually having a racetrack here in North Carolina. Maybe if they had something in the Charlotte area it could draw enough people, but I think, first, it would take having an economic study that would address the viability of having a track in the state. It would be an uphill battle. Now that it's about to be legal, maybe that is a step in the right direction. But I still think there are some economic hurdles that would have to be crossed.”

While live racing is unlikely to happen in the state, the bill will allow for North Carolina residents to open Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) accounts, which are currently illegal.

“This is long overdue,” said North Carolina resident and owner-breeder Bill Thompson Jr. “There has been a conservative majority in the state for a while representing a religious constituency. We've had a state lottery for quite some time, but that's all we've had. Pari-mutuel betting in the state has been prohibited. To me, that's been a big inconvenience, not being able to bet on your own horses. To have it legalized now where it will come to pass that we can have ADW accounts and mobile wagering, that will be very much welcomed.”

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‘NC Derby Act’ Sidesteps Key Issue

Two North Carolina senators filed a bill Apr. 6 that would create a racing commission to promote and regulate a built-from-scratch Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry in a state where pari-mutuel wagering is currently not legal.

Despite that seemingly large hurdle, Senators Paul Lowe (D-Forsyth) and Jim Perry (R-Lenoir) for the most part sidestepped the controversial issue of horse betting in Senate Bill 629, which is titled “The North Carolina Derby Act.”

The only gambling-related reference within the bill comes under the definition for the proposed “North Carolina Racing Office,” which is to be established under the Lottery Commission and would be “vested with control of all horse racing in the State and with power to adopt rules under which racing and wagering shall be conducted.”

In other words, the bill's backers are banking on fellow legislators and the citizenry of a very conservative state being okay with allowing a newly created racing commission to legalize horse betting simply by writing regulations that make it allowable.

When asked by WRAL News why betting wasn't more specifically addressed within the bill, Lowe replied, “That's part of the industry.”

North Carolina hosts limited steeplechase and harness meets that are non-pri-mutuel.

Lowe told WRAL that commercial Thoroughbred racing presents an opportunity for economic development, even in rural areas.

“It's a billion-dollar industry,” Lowe said. “You start looking at restaurants, hotels and all of the things that go around with this kind of agricultural sporting event-there's a lot that goes into it.”

The bill states that the racing commission would be charged with the duty to “Develop a long-term plan for racing in North Carolina to determine the appropriate location and number of tracks to be built in this State so as to position any major track and its purse structure in the upper segment of good quality tracks while creating a strong breeding, foaling, and training structure throughout the State.”

The bill further adds that the commission would be tasked with issuing “permits to build only quality racing facilities that are designed to permit year-round racing.”

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Horses In North Carolina Dying From Mystery Illness

New Hope Stables in North Carolina has had four horses die from a mystery illness that veterinarians cannot isolate or explain. Treasure, an 18-year-old rescue horse used in the stable's lesson program, was the first horse afflicted and was originally suspected to be colicking when barn workers found him down on September 23.

When the veterinarian arrived, however, it was apparent that Treasure was not colicking, but the horse was experiencing gastrointestinal irritation. The gelding was sent to Woodside Equine Clinic in Richmond, VA, where he deteriorated and was euthanized.

On Sept. 28, several other horses at the farm became ill and three died. Three horses remain in the clinic and nearly half of the farm's stable is on intravenous fluids.

Treating veterinarian Dr. Shanna Edwards has asked colleagues all over the United States for opinions; thus far no conclusive diagnosis has been reached, even after a necropsy of one of the horses.

Affected horses have diarrhea, colic and fever, and become bloated and lethargic. Edwards suspects a toxin may be in the horse's hay, grain or water as every horse in the farm is affected, which doesn't typically happen with an infectious disease. The farm has stopped using their well water and has brought in new hay and grain.

A GoFundMePage has raised nearly $30,000 of the $20,000 goal.